Into utter silence came the word,
not even the rustle of a mouse, nor bird
beyond her window, nothing to disturb
the restless shift of wings, nothing to curb
her fear as she confronted him, the face
luminous in the immensity of grace,
filled with tenderness and with a trace
of awe, if angels can be said to taste
such moments, struck by how so young a girl
could possibly consent to bear a world
of last resort in her own flesh, a pearl
so rare that even hosts of angels whirl
in ecstasy at the unleashing of the gift
that caused the universe and time to shift.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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