tears of the world

So, in the often forgotten but incredibly wonderful church calendar (see an online version here), today is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Horrible, sad part of history. Even more horribly and sadly not alone in history.
Christmas is beautiful and hopeful and I love it.
Holy Innocents reminds us that there is still change to be worked in the world around us.
We fail too often.
And we are too often blind to this fact.

tears of the world

the world weeps
giant tiny tears
tears of sorrow
grief and loss
tears of pain
hurt and ache
tears of hell
lived on earth
tears of death
come too soon
tears that must
be more than
the grains of sand
and than
the stars in heaven
tears enough to flood creation
so weeps our world,
and we in it

written 11/19/07

Christmas

Christmas

In this darkened night we dream
Of bright warmness, all enfolding
Of sudden surge in which we may bask

Mired in sin and doubt, we dream
Of mighty king sweeping down
To shake right into the world

And faint morning light upward creeps;
And small babe is in manger laid;
And the earth moves while great change glimmers

Written 12/06/07

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Closer

I've had one of the lines from this poem on my desktop staring at me for, oh, more than a week now. I knew there was more to go with it, but I had nothing. So it sat there and taunted me. I knew (okay, hoped) that if I let it sit there long enough, I'd figure out the rest of the poem. And I did. Sometimes this happens and sometimes I'm still waiting. Which is a pretty good lead in...

Closer

shadows lengthen and evening
comes ere the work
day passes by

dark creeps closer to
me as sleep's promise
beckons from dented pillow

bulb, flame, and
candle gleam into dusty
light as "dark shall not overcome"

challenge, promise, eternal
hope leap outward, each
seduction from lethargy

once more comes
quiet whisper saying,
"a new way of living is required"

as dusky dark gathers
near and flickering
light shines and we

we draw close to each
candle, flame, face
closer to promise, closer ...

written 12-19-07

bonus points (randomly assigned and only tracked in my mind) if you can guess which line...

These Days

So today is slushy--we've been getting a mixture of snow and rain. Not my favorite weather.
There's a lot about the entire world that I don't like. There are a lot of things that don't seem to work correctly. Things much bigger than the weather. We all have those things.
From the BCP:
What is the Christian Hope?
The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world. (page 862)

These are the days…

Days when wars will rage
When illnesses come
When families are torn apart
These days are now

Days of pain and sorrow
Days when tears roll down cheeks
And sobs consume our breath
These days are now

Days when joy seems to pale
As we peer around defenses
Erected in metal and mind
These days are now

These are the days
When our lives are not as we would choose
When the world seems cold and cruel
These days are now

The days are surely coming,
Says the Lord, the Holy One,
When will justice will roll like a river
And the Wise King will reign with
Righteousness will never to fail,

In those days that are coming.

Written 12/1/07

Waiting and Watching, responding to invitation

Christine over at Abbey of the Arts (a new and delightful discovery) offers a biweekly Invitation to Poetry. She posts a prompt and then adds any poems people respond with. I love the fact that there are in this world people with different gifts than I have. Check out her site, read what other people wrote. It's pretty impressive.
So here's my response to her ideas. It was challenging, fun, and advent-ish. Oh, and a great way to help put off writing those final papers.

we wait,
peering out from
behind hats and scarves
amid the multitude
hidden among
plain and poor
adorned and rich
eyes that speak of royalty
their greatest majesty that
which they watch
patiently waiting for fulfillment
teasing us with past deeds
waiting in response
waiting for response to
their challenge to do better still

Written 12/11/07

Are we there yet?

Advent is a tricky season. As Sophia said, it is eschatological (about waiting/hoping/believing in the realization of God's promise). It's also about Christmas and the baby in the manger. It's a season that seems to belong entirely to the Church, as merchandizing and marketing pushes Christmas itself (only 12 liturgical days) back before Thanksgiving. And what does that mean? I would offer that we as a church are really bad at claiming Advent. I wonder how much of that is because we don't know what to do with it as individuals.
Advent is about waiting and preparing (Mary), it's about doing and changing (John the Baptist), it is (as all liturgical seasons are) an aspect of daily life. But what is it we are getting ready for? Anybody?


are we there yet?
is this journey over?
for the road is rather long
and the scenery repeats

are we there yet?
can we stop now?
my feet are getting sore
and I'm ready to be done

are we there yet?
is this labor over?
I'm growing weary,
feeling a bit worn down

are we there yet?
are we even close?
'cause here's another one hungry
and they suffer still

are we there yet?
will we ever be?
the poor are still among us
and never seem to leave

are we there yet?
where are we?
the blind don't see,
we only guide them

are we there yet?
are we even moving?
the lame don't walk,
but my 'carry' is getting good

are we there yet?
can you see the end?
I don't know where we are
And I'm waiting for a sign

are we there yet?
and how will we know,
this end we keep on trying for
when we finally arrive

written 11/07

Grant Us

It's the first week of Advent. I have never been overly consistent at taking Advent seriously. This year I think changes are going to start here, in what I write. So here's my first poem of Advent.

grant us so to hear
a world calling for newness
that we may rise up and build

grant us so to see
temples built to this world
and vision your Kingdom

grant us so to dwell
in a kingdom like yours
one we wish to inhabit

grant us an answer
to the call we dare not voice
for we are growing weary

Written 11/07