Here are some specific references:
* "A cold coming we had of it, / Just the worst time of the year": This alludes to the difficult journey the Magi faced, traveling during the harsh winter season.
* "Birth is hard": This line directly refers to the challenging nature of Jesus' birth, both physically for Mary and symbolically for the world.
* "The three trees on the low sky / And the shadow of the brittle leaves": This imagery is reminiscent of the Christmas tree, symbolizing the arrival of Jesus as a source of life and hope.
* "We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, / But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation": This suggests the Magi's lives were forever changed after witnessing the birth of Jesus, and they were no longer content with their old ways of life.
* "I should be glad of another death.": This line is open to interpretation, but it could refer to the Magi's desire for something beyond their earthly existence, a longing for the spiritual realm they encountered in Bethlehem.
While the poem is not a literal retelling of the biblical story, it uses the journey of the Magi as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of humankind. The Magi's experience symbolizes the challenges and transformations associated with seeking truth and encountering the divine.