POETRY

Christmas and the Cross

A woman behind the wheel makes all the difference I thought,
As I drove home from Christmas Mass in my silver Cynos, alert,
With care and concern, exchanging smiles and greetings with passersby
It was then that I saw a child, returning home from church at night
Cross the road to meet some friends: But alas! Met her destiny

The rear red lights flashed against the moving figures who ran
Across the road to safety or so they thought. The child followed.
Midway, like Cinderella, bent over her slipper in an incredible flash
A red trishaw scratched paint off my door: Speed without control.

Typically creeping from all loopholes to escape time
Every red cent counts; his family needs more than he can afford.
A jeep swerved to avoid any red slur on its whiteness: A screech.
A clash of metal and a mild thud. The inevitable has happened.

Recklessness. And drunkenness. Or was it also the irate phone call
From his own-kid calling to remind him to post her letter to Santa?
It shifted his attention that dreadful second. Another mother's baby
Had to pay for his slack. A tiny body lay disfigured against the headlights

Tyre treads laid its heartless seal of contempt on her pink frilly dress.
One Cinderella slipper slept beside her for comfort. A flash of light
Shone a halo upon her face: She had an angelic smile on her lips.
As she was lifted up, perhaps, by the dream-winged angels from high

She lay cold as a corpse. Not a shiver. She had gone where little babes go
To the safety of the One who cares beyond all measure: To life eternal
Where no black patches of injustice, drunkenness, neglect and indifference,
Where inhuman, insanity like a rogue drags life to a screech of silence

The flash of light glistened against a little puddle: A pool of water.
I thought the child might get her hair wet, lying there unattended.
The moon rose miraculously against a star speckled sky and touched
The hair of the motionless child, gently, without intruding on her slumber

Its then that I saw the red flash. The puddle had turned a murky deep maroon.
It ached somewhere deep within my heart. Thumped inconsolably
At the realization: The child was no more. The water had turned to blood.
She had crossed the bridge. To live forever. This silent night; holy night.

The drunkard would slip cash against khaki and go home tonight to celebrate
The Night of nights. With all its richness, aromas, coloured lights and the fun-filled cheer
The trishaw driver that never stopped will move on making ends meet year after year
As glasses lift, voices rise an ecstatic pitch: One little girl will miss Christmas joy forever.

CF

Did they know?

Did Mary know her infant child
Born with no sin malice or guile
One day would empires shake
That His life a cross would take

Did she know her arms cradled
The Creator of the galaxies & gale
Did she know her eyes beheld
Splendour of the Born Divine
Did she know her ears picked
First words of Infinite Wisdom
Did she know her sweet lullabies

Were to the King of angel song
She taught His faltering tongue
Eternal Erudition in abeyance
Carpenter & Maid used to raise
The One whose unending praise
Echoes through the Universe

Did the weary donkey know
Gracious Lady whom he bore
She'd bear a Child from above
To be our lowly King of love
Had the innkeeper known who came
Lowly tired bearing no great name
How many corporate keepers today
Reject the truth, life and the Way

Did priests know when they checked records
When the wise men were shown the roads
Why did they not go worship the Messiah
Were their hearts hard with earthly desire?

Did Herod know his infamous deed
Aped by despots who justice impede
Fragile Innocence conquers kings
Peace on earth heaven's anthem rings
Did shepherds know their destiny

In a dark night they met Eternity
Why would you postpone the tryst
Your Shepherd King's love amiss
Did Wise Men that night know
Their gift of myrrh spoke pain
Saviour born would be impaled
Frankincense aroma of life gave
The gold would well serve the babe
As the Family flight would take
Eternal Intelligence fragility takes
That man arrogant folly forsakes
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

-Burton Hillis

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

St. Luke ii

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveller back to his own fireside and quiet home!

-Charles Dickens

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer the poor man’s heart through half the year.

- Walter Scott

The only blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.

-Helen Keller

“Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year, and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.”

W.J. Cameron

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, there came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is
born King of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the east, and are come to
worship him.

- Matthew 2:1-2

And she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins

Matthew 1:21

A Christmas Blessing

During this Christmas season,
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
which is love
Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to you glad.

John Greenleaf Whittier

Christmas Joys

Evergreen boughs that fill our homes
With fragrant Christmas scents,
Hearts filled with the loving glow
That Christmas represents;
Christmas cookies, turkeys stuffed,
Festive holly berry,
Little faces bright with joy,
Loved ones being merry;
Parties, songs, beribboned gifts,
Silver bells that tinkle,
Christmas trees and ornaments,
Colorful lights that twinkle;
Relatives waiting with open arms
To smile and hug and kiss us;
These are some of the special joys
That come along with Christmas.

By Joanna Fuchs