Sunday, December 24, 2017

Merry Christmas!

This year the annual Christmas poem was solely in my court - Dr. M had written 13 and I had only written 12. Good grief - that's a lot of Christmases! As you might imagine, I had a little bit of trouble drumming up the wherewithal to even get started. This year was supposed to be great and instead it included a biblical plague of a move, a new hip, and another job elimination. I had a lot of non-Christmas-related feelings as I tried to write. But to appropriate a popular refrain: Nevertheless, I Persisted. Here is the result.

This poem could be about disaster
or the slamming of doors.
It could reflect on
personal sorrow,
national shame,
turning our backs,
the high dudgeon of
righteous fury.

But.

As I am reminded every year,
the Christ Child comes.
He shows up in crèche,
and carol,
and in the stars that lead
our broken world toward hope.

He’s sitting beside me now
whispering in my ear,
“You already know what to do:
Do what is right.
Love kindness.
Walk humbly with God.”

Okay then.
Okay.

Dana and Mike Rhyne
Christmas 2017

7 comments:

  1. The verse from Micha's propechy about doing what's right, being kind and humble, is very popular among both jews and christians. I personally like the part of "walk humbly with God" as I believe this is the part that people violate most, and that's why the world looks chaotic. Over the many decades, people showed no humility , they have grossly violated God's creation and its orderly rules; they're constantly trying "to play God".

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. Lovely poem. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you and your wonderful husband have a very Merry Christmas.

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  3. Great job! I needed a little shot of hope.

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  4. Love that positive outlook. Merry Christmas to both of you!

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  5. Your poem is beautiful. Humility, kindness, and a search for true understanding don't get much pub these days, but they're still a good part of the meaning of Christmas. You're certainly done your part, here. Merry Christmas!

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