Word Pieces III

Silent Night

Of Mary, Jesus, Little Child
we pondered, prayed and gathered
and with the stars, among the Mild
we said, we knew, it mattered

Came man and God to us of old
among the chit and chatter
of the mean world and midst our fold
still is, and will, and matter

How cruel we think is death with birth
a part the deal, not reason
calls one and all on God's great earth
to join in Judas' treason

But little minds have we the men
to see, to care, to cherish
the plan salvation made back then
that He with us should perish

So still we are this silent night
here in our place, the stable

of our lost hearts, our souls, our parts
we play at heaven's table

The meal, the feast, the banquet nigh
draws us the hungry crowd
who shout with all the hosts on high
Bless us, the meek, the proud

Reflections

wrapped in swaddling
(inwrapped)
clothes and clothes
lying lying
everywhere
we everywhere
find only mirror
Only find images of images
Christ making God a God making Christ
repetition of the Of (repetition)
series of images
of series
known
as known
us
us

Christmas Greed

Ho, ho, ho big fat man
give me as much as you possibly can
I have a this and that
but most of all I need a hat
I have a green and a blue
and even though I need a new
This and that and everything

else you will see
no one lonelier than me

But move right on here and there
pay no heed and give no care
Just give me things
these and those
Line them up in rows and rows

And if you will and if you can
just once
give me more
than you possibly can

Tinsel Town

Hastily to and fro
    the tinsel spangled world moves

Pick out a garland here and a ring-around-the-rosy
    cheeks of children reflect a white bearded old
    smile in red and their eyes decide
which tree will be the winter guest in the warm 
    bread-scented home
which wrapping will deceive the special December
    private
I, from outside observe the giant Clockwork World
    grinding out the antique message of
    contemporary time
Half past dawn
    and moving too slow to notice 
    and too fast to care. 

Tannenbaum

lo and behold
two angels brought a Christmas tree

down to one made of tears
and feelings of alone
feeling that the Christ
might not come
wandering if He visits
abandoned souls missing a peace

wondering if he had done
wrong to the world
and the special ones of his charge
doubting in his mind
is Jesus near here or anywhere
especially where want of warm
hearts touch one another
around the fire of love

but then
the tree and the angel
and things of times past
pass in the night of love

and come goodness
and friendship
and the Truth of
the season of the Child

Man in Red

Who is this man in red says He 
who in a crèche beneath the tree
lit by a star not marketry
of greed and pomp and trickery

I know you not 
away with sin 
bring back your King and enter in
the place that never saw such waste
of lavish gifts without a taste
of tears this day will leave my heart
for those who just remember part
the Whole who caused all else to be
The Hope 
The Love 
The Adam Tree
+
And now beloved sons of man
what force was it that took your hand
and made you go against the star
and led you off so very far
from simple love of God's good Grace
and run to win the empty race
of hide and seek eternal bliss
in thanks and praise of many gifts
+
The manger then was not so far              
as those new hearts below the barre
Who struggle up to see the Light
of that once 
Holy 
Lovely 
Night