ADVENT.....MEDITATIONS ON THE SEASON

ADVENT....


AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF POETRY CENTERING ON THE ADVENT SEASON

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ADVENT (Matthew 24:36-44)

IN THE TIME OF THE SHORTENING OF THE SUN

 

WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO FLEE FROM THE EARTH

 

WHEN THE IMPERMANENCE OF OUR LIVES

 

IS BROUGHT HOME TO US

 

WHEN WINTER WINDS TAKE OUR BODY HEAT

WHEN WINTER CALLS US TO SLEEP,

 

DREAMS UNFULFILLED

 

IN THIS TIME OF COMING DARKNESS

 

WE STRIKE A MATCH AND SING

O COME EMMANUEL,

COME DAY STAR, COME

COME GIVE US PROMISE

OF RETURNING SUN

OF RIVERS UNFROZEN

OF SPRING ONCE MORE

OF DREAMS TO BE

O COME,

AND IN THIS WINTER THAT WE FACE

LIVE WITH US AS COMPANY

FRANK A VOLLMER

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ADVENT SONG (Matthew 11:2-11)

COME LEVELER OF MOUNTAINS COME

COME STRAIGHTENER OF CROOKED WAYS

 

COME LION TAMER LAMB CARRIER COME

COME RISING SUN TO WARM OUR DAY

 

COME CONVERTER OF WEAPONS TO FARMWARE

 

COME BRINGER OF THE WINE AND THE WHEAT

 

COME FLOURISHING TREE OF JESSE

 

COME MAKE YOUR CREATION COMPLETE

COME GIVE A SIGN OH SILENT GOD

COME GIVE A SIGN WE TEMPT YOU STILL

SO SILENT GOD WE THOUGHT YOU DEAD

COME MARY'S CHILD WE LOVE YOU STILL

 

COME SILENT GOD WITH THUNDER VOICE

 

EARTH'S VALLEYS AND THE DESERT FILL

 

SPEAK GOD FOR IN YOUR SILENCE LONG

 

WE FEEL THAT WE ARE ORPHANS STILL

 

COME MARY'S CHILD LONG COMING COME

 

COME SMASHER OF THE YOKE AND ROD

 

COME CHILD AND LEAD US IN THE DANCE

 

COME FRIEND AND SPEAK...BE NOT SILENT GOD

COME LORD JESUS COME AGAIN

BRING THE WHEAT AND GENTLE RAIN

COME AGAIN

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

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I Don't Believe in God (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-80 )

 

I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD

 

I AGREE WITH THE ATHEISTS

 

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE GOD

 

THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN EITHER

 

THE WHITE

 

BEARDED

 

MONARCH

 

WHO WILLY NILLY

 

INFLICTS PAIN

WHO IS DISINTERESTED

 

IN THE WORLD HE CREATED

 

I DON'T BELIEVE

 

IN THIS GOD

 

I BELIEVE IN A GOD

 

OF HOPE AND PROMISE

A GOD WHO SAYS

I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy,

create my people as pure delight.

 

I'll take joy in Jerusalem,

take delight in my people:

 

No more sounds of weeping in the city,

no cries of anguish;

 

No more babies dying in the cradle,

or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime;

 

One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—

anything less will seem like a cheat.

They'll build houses

and move in.

They'll plant fields

and eat what they grow.

No more building a house

that some outsider takes over,

No more planting fields

that some enemy confiscates,

For my people will be as long-lived as trees,

my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.

They won't work and have nothing come of it,they won't have children snatched out from under them.

 

GOD HAS PROMISED
 

I BELIEVE IT
 

IT WILL BE SO

 

I BELIEVE

 

THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATUS QUO

 

IS AN IRRELIGIOUS ACT

 

A BETRAYAL

 

OF HIM

 

WHO GAVE US THE WORLD

 

TO CARE FOR

 

IS THE WORLD BETTER

 

FOR DIFFERENT CREEDS

 

WHERE IS THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING

 

SAVE ME FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

WHO SING

 

PRAISE GOD

 

ALL THE DAY

 

AND DO NOTHING

 

IT'S A WONDER

 

THE ATHEIST'S FIRE

 

DOESN'T FLARE HIGHER

 

WE FEED IT SO MUCH FUEL

 

Before they call out, I'll answer.

 

Before they've finished speaking,

I'll have heard

 

Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow,

lion and ox eat straw from the same trough,

 

but snakes—they'll get a diet of dirt!

Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill

anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God.

 

IN THIS ADVENT SEASON

 

COME AGAIN

 

LORD JESUS

 

COME AGAIN

 

LET THE MIRACLE

OF YOUR INCARNATION

 

INFUSE SOCIETY

 

AND LET THEIR BE

 

NO MORE KILLING

 

ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN

FRANK A VOLLMER

………………Immigrant (Matthew 25:35)...

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).

 

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35)...

 

SO QUICK HAD THEY LEFT

 

THE ANGEL HAD GIVEN THEM NO TIME

 

HEROD WOULD DIM HIS SMILE

 

FOREVER

 

QUICK
 

BE GONE

 

WHERE SHALL I FIND WORK

 

TO FEED AND CLOTHE

 

AND SHELTER MY FAMILY

 

I

 

A STRANGER

 

IN A STRANGE LAND

WHOSE WAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE

WHOSE GODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE

WHOSE SPEECH IS DIFFERENT FROM MINE

I HAVE SKILLS

IF THEY'LL LET ME USE THEM

 

PERHAPS THE SHIPYARDS ON THE SUEZ

 

WILL HAVE WORK

 

BUT WHATEVER WORK IS THERE
 

I'LL DO

 

WILL PEOPLE LOOK ASKANCE AT OUR CLOTHES

 

WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PACK

 

WHAT WE'RE WEARING

 

IS WHAT WE HAVE

WE ARE TOLD TO WELCOME THE STRANGER

 

IN OUR MIDST

 

A RULE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL RELIGIONS

MAY GOD BE WITH ME IN THE NEW LAND

 

IF THINGS WE'RE BETTER AT HOME

 

I WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT

 

BUT THE CHOICE IS NOT MINE

 

IF THE CHILD SHOULD LIVE

 

AND BRING HIS SMILE

 

TO THE WORLD

FRANK A VOLLMER

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ADVENT IN AUSCHWITZ  (MATTHEW 25:45)

WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE

SO SINGS THE POET WILFRED OWEN

OF SOLDIERS

KILLED

IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE

WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIED

AT AUSCHWITZ

BERGEN-BELSEN

TREBLINKA

NOT THE ONLY DISASTER

TO HAVE HAPPENED

BUT THIS HAPPENED

IN MY LIFETIME

TO PEOPLE

SOME OF WHOM

BORE MY LAST NAME

DID NOT MESSIAH

ROAM THESE CAMPS

CRYING

THIS IS NOT RELIGION

BUT

HATRED

EACH ONE WHO DIES

DIES AS CHRIST

EACH ONE WHO DIES

IS A LILY IN THE FIELD

BELOVED BY ITS MAKER

EACH ONE WHO IS SHOT

GASSED

STARVED

HUNG

BURNED

CRIES OUT

WHERE IS YOUR RELIGION

THE JEWS CRY FOR A MESSIAH

CHRISTIANS CRY FOR A MESSIAH

PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM NOT

CRY FOR A MESSIAH

BUT HE WILL NOT INTRUDE

HE MADE THE WORLD FOR US

GAVE US DOMINION

BECAUSE WE WOULD PREFER TO EAT THE FRUIT

HE GAVE US DOMINION

MAKE IT WORK

HE SAID

YOU WANTED DOMINION

MAKE IT WORK

I TREASURE

EVERY LILY IN THE FIELD

GARDENER

TEND YOUR FLOWERS

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

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SOLILOQUY - O COME EMMANUEL

O COME O COME EMMANUEL

TO MY LONELY BED

WHERE THE HOURS GO SLOWLY

AND SLEEP ESCAPES ME

COME EMMANUEL

COME EMMANUEL

COME DAY STAR

AND HELP ME FIND MORNING

COME

ROD OF JESSE COME

AND GIVE ME VICTORY OVER THE GRAVE

FOR DEATH AND I

HAVE BECOME FRIENDS

COME O COME O MIGHTY GOD

WHO DWELT ONCE ON HIGH

WHO DWELT ONCE AMONG US

WHO DWELLS NOW WITHIN US

COME

COME GOD OF FORGIVENESS

AND OF PEACE

LET YOUR WAYS BE MINE

COME O COME

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS COME

COME AS SLEEP COMES TO MY EYES

COME

AS I LET YOU RULE YOUR WORLD

COME

AND GIVE ME REST

FRANK A VOLLMER

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LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

NOW AT THE DARKEST PART OF THE YEAR

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF WINTER

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

ODD THE SUN IS SO CLOSE TO THE EARTH IN WINTER

SO THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE A SLIVER THAT QUICKLY PASSES

BUT LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

LIKE WHEAT THAT SPRINGETH GREEN

IT NEEDED DARKNESS TO BEGIN

FROM THIS POINT ON THE SUN GROWS STRONGER

ODD THE DAY SHOULD BE THE WARMEST

WHEN THE SUN IS FAR AWAY

BUT IN THE VERY DEAD OF WINTER

WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

WHEN NIGHT AND COLD HAS COME TO FREEZE US IN PLACE

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

FRANK A VOLLMER

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WHERE IS MESSIAH  (Isaiah 53:3)

IN POLAND

IN WARSAW

IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY

IN ONE OF THE TOMBS

A WOMAN GAVE BIRTH

HER ONLY ATTENDANT

THE CARETAKER

WHO WAS HIDING TOO

HE SAID

PERHAPS THIS ONE IS THE MESSIAH

BORN SO LOWLY

DESPISED

AND SPIT UPON

PERHAPS HE IS THE MESSIAH

THE CHRISTIAN MESSIAH

HAS BROUGHT US NO PEACE

BUT HE WATCHED HIS DREAM FADE

AS THE CHILD

SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS

HER BREASTS WERE DRY

THE CHILD

SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS

AND DIED

EVENTUALLY

THEY WERE FOUND

AND WENT UP IN SMOKE

THE NEARBY VILLAGERS

SMELLED THE SMOKE

AND KNEW WHAT IT WAS

THEIR HOMES STANK OF IT

THEY CALLED IT

       JEWISH PERFUME

IN A WORLD

STILL PLAGUED

BY WAR

HUNGER

AND HATRED

CAN WE NOT SAY

WHERE IS MESSIAH

WHERE IS MESSIAH

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

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POETRY BY ISAIAH

ISAIAH   (Isaiah 11:1)

 A SHOOT

 SHALL COME OUT

 FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE,

AND A BRANCH

SHALL GROW OUT OF HIS ROOTS

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

SHALL REST ON HIM,

THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM

 AND UNDERSTANDING,

THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL

AND MIGHT,

THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE

AND THE FEAR OF THE LORD

 HIS DELIGHT

SHALL BE IN THE FEAR

 OF THE LORD

 HE SHALL NOT JUDGE

 BY WHAT HIS EYES SEE,

OR DECIDE BY WHAT HIS EARS HEAR;

 BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS

HE SHALL JUDGE THE POOR,

 AND DECIDE WITH EQUITY

 FOR THE MEEK OF THE EARTH;

 HE SHALL STRIKE THE EARTH

 WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH,

AND WITH THE BREATH OF HIS LIPS

 HE SHALL KILL THE WICKED.

 RIGHTEOUSNESS

 SHALL BE THE BELT AROUND HIS WAIST,

AND FAITHFULNESS

THE BELT AROUND HIS LOINS

 THE WOLF

 SHALL LIVE WITH THE LAMB,

THE LEOPARD

SHALL LIE DOWN WITH THE KID,

 THE CALF

 AND THE LION

AND THE FATLING TOGETHER,

AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.

 THE COW AND THE BEAR

SHALL GRAZE,

 THEIR YOUNG SHALL LIE DOWN TOGETHER;

AND THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW LIKE THE OX.

 THE NURSING CHILD

SHALL PLAY OVER THE HOLE

OF THE ASP,

 AND THE WEANED CHILD

SHALL PUT ITS HAND

ON THE ADDER'S DEN

 THEY WILL NOT HURT

OR DESTROY

ON ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN;

 

FOR THE EARTH WILL BE FULL

OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD

AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA

 

ON THAT DAY

 THE ROOT OF JESSE

SHALL STAND

AS A SIGNAL TO THE PEOPLES;

 

THE NATIONS

 SHALL INQUIRE OF HIM,

 

AND HIS DWELLING

SHALL BE GLORIOUS

 

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POETRY BY ISAIAH

ISAIAH  (Isaiah 35:1)

 THE WILDERNESS

AND THE DRY LAND

 SHALL BE GLAD,

 

 THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE

AND BLOSSOM;

LIKE THE CROCUS
 IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY,

AND REJOICE WITH JOY

AND SINGING.

THE GLORY OF LEBANON

SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT,

THE MAJESTY OF CARMEL

AND SHARON.

THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY

OF THE LORD,

THE MAJESTY OF OUR GOD.

 STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS,

AND MAKE FIRM

 THE FEELE KNEES.

 SAY TO THOSE

WHO ARE OF A FEARFUL HEART,

"BE STRONG,

DO NOT FEAR!

 

HERE IS YOUR GOD.

HE WILL COME

WITH VENGEANCE,

 WITH TERRIBLE RECOMPENSE

HE WILL COME

AND SAVE YOU."

 THEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND
SHALL BE OPENED,

AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF

UNSTOPPED;

 THEN THE LAME
 SHALL LEAP LIKE A DEER,

 AND THE TONGUE

 OF THE SPEECHLESS
SING FOR JOY.

 FOR WATERS SHALL BREAK FORTH

IN THE WILDERNESS,

AND STREAMS IN THE DESERT;

 THE BURNING SAND
SHALL BECOME A POOL,
AND THE THIRSTY GROUND
SPRINGS OF WATER;

THE HAUNT OF JACKALS

 SHALL BECOME A SWAMP,

THE GRASS

SHALL BECOME REEDS AND RUSHES

 A HIGHWAY

SHALL BE THERE,

AND IT SHALL BE CALLED

THE HOLY WAY;

THE UNCLEAN

 SHALL NOT TRAVEL ON IT

BUT IT SHALL BE FOR GOD'S PEOPLE;

 NO TRAVELER,

 NOT EVEN FOOLS,

 SHALL GO ASTRAY

 NO LION

 SHALL BE THERE,

NOR SHALL ANY RAVENOUS BEAST

 COME UP ON IT;

THEY SHALL NOT BE FOUND THERE,

BUT THE REDEEMED SHALL WALK THERE.

 AND THE RANSOMED

OF THE LORD

SHALL RETURN,

AND COME TO ZION

 WITH SINGING;

EVERLASTING JOY

SHALL BE UPON THEIR HEADS;

 THEY SHALL OBTAIN JOY

AND GLADNESS,

AND SORROW

AND SIGHING

 SHALL FLEE AWAY

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POETRY BY ISAIAH

ISAIAH  (Isaiah 64:1)

 O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS

 AND COME DOWN,

SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS

 WOULD QUAKE AT YOUR PRESENCE--

 AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD

AND THE FIRE CAUSES WATER TO BOIL—

TO MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN

TO YOUR ADVERSARIES,

SO THAT THE NATIONS MIGHT TREMBLE

 AT YOUR PRESENCE!

 WHEN YOU DID AWESOME DEEDS

THAT WE DID NOT EXPECT,

YOU CAME DOWN,

THE MOUNTAINS QUAKED

 AT YOUR PRESENCE

 FROM AGES PAST

 NO ONE HAS HEARD,

 NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED,

NO EYE HAS SEEN

 ANY GOD BESIDES YOU,

WHO WORKS FOR THOSE

WHO WAIT FOR HIM

 YOU MEET THOSE

WHO GLADLY DO RIGHT,

THOSE WHO REMEMBER YOU

IN YOUR WAYS

BUT YOU WERE ANGRY

AND WE SINNED;

 BECAUSE YOU HID YOURSELF

 WE TRANSGRESSED.

 WE HAVE ALL

 BECOME LIKE ONE WHO IS UNCLEAN,

AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS

ARE LIKE A FILTHY CLOTH.

WE ALL FADE LIKE A LEAF

AND OUR INIQUITIES

LIKE THE WIND

TAKE US AWAY.

 THERE IS NO ONE

WHO CALLS ON YOUR NAME,

 OR ATTEMPTS TO TAKE HOLD OF YOU;

FOR YOU HAVE HIDDEN

YOUR FACE FROM US,

 AND HAVE DELIVERED US

 INTO THE HAND OF OUR INIQUITY

 YET, O LORD,

YOU ARE OUR FATHER;

WE ARE THE CLAY,

AND YOU ARE OUR POTTER;

WE ARE ALL THE WORK OF YOUR HAND.

 DO NOT

 BE EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY, O LORD,

AND DO NOT REMEMBER

 INIQUITY FOREVER.

NOW CONSIDER

 WE ARE ALL YOUR PEOPLE. 
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POETRY BY ISAIAH

ISAIAH   (Isaiah 40:1)

 COMFORT,

 O COMFORT MY PEOPLE,

 SAYS YOUR GOD

 SPEAK TENDERLY

TO JERUSALEM
 

 AND CRY TO HER

THAT SHE HAS SERVED HER TERM,

THAT HER PENALTY IS PAID,

THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED

FROM THE LORD'S HAND

 DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS.

 A VOICE CRIES OUT

IN THE WILDERNESS

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT

 A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

 EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED UP,

 AND EVERY MOUNTAIN

AND HILL

BE MADE LOW;

 THE UNEVEN GROUND

 SHALL BECOME LEVEL,

 AND THE ROUGH PLACES A PLAIN.

 THEN THE GLORY

 OF THE LORD

SHALL BE REVEALED,

AND ALL PEOPLE

SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER,

 FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD

 HAS SPOKEN."

 A VOICE SAYS,

"CRY OUT!"

 AND I SAID, "

WHAT SHALL I CRY?"

 

ALL PEOPLE ARE GRASS,

THEIR CONSTANCY

 IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD.

 THE GRASS WITHERS,

THE FLOWER FADES,

WHEN THE BREATH OF THE LORD

BLOWS UPON IT;

 SURELY THE PEOPLE ARE GRASS
 THE GRASS WITHERS,

THE FLOWER FADES;

 BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD

WILL STAND FOREVER

 GET YOU UP TO A HIGH MOUNTAIN,

 O ZION,

 HERALD OF GOOD TIDINGS;

 LIFT UP YOUR VOICE

WITH STRENGTH,

O JERUSALEM,

 HERALD OF GOOD TIDINGS,

 LIFT IT UP,

 DO NOT FEAR;

SAY TO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, "

HERE IS YOUR GOD!"

 SEE,

 THE LORD GOD COMES

WITH MIGHT,

 AND HIS ARM RULES FOR HIM;

 HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM,

AND HIS RECOMPENSE BEFORE HIM

 HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK

 LIKE A SHEPHERD;

HE WILL GATHER THE LAMBS

IN HIS ARMS,

AND CARRY THEM

 IN HIS BOSOM,

AND GENTLY LEAD

 THE MOTHER SHEEP

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ISAIAH 1

NOT A STUMP

 

A BRANCH SHALL COME

FROM THE TRUNK OF JESSE’S FAMILY TREE

IT WILL BE CALLED

WISE

UNDERSTANDING

CONSOLING 

MIGHTY

PRINCE OF PEACE

A BETTER IMAGE THAN STUMP

OF FORESTS DENUDED

AS THE ASSYRIANS DID

TO THE LAND AROUND JERUSALEM

BUT THE PROMISES OF GOD

WEREN’T IN THE FORESTS OR THE CITY

THE SON OF DAVID WOULD COME

THE LINEAGE OF DAVID

WOULD PROGRESS

FATHER TO SON

UNTIL FULFILLED IN CHRIST

NOT A STUMP

BUT A TREE WOULD SURVIVE

NOT A WASTELAND

BUT A LAND RESEEDED

BY THE MOTHER TREE

NOT A WASTELAND

BUT A TREE

WHERE THOSE WHO WERE SCATTERED

LIKE FRIGHTENED BIRDS

COULD COME BACK

AND FIND REFUGE

THE PROMISE

THE LINEAGE

WOULD COME TRUE

THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL

ONCE MORE BEARS FRUIT

AND WE ARE ASKED TO PARTAKE

THIS IS MY BODY

MY BLOOD

COME AND BE PART OF ME

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 In Such an Hour

 Sometimes, when everything goes
wrong:
When days are short, and nights are long;
When wash-day brings so dull a sky
That not a single thing will dry.
And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
And when there's naught so "queer" as
folks!
When friends deplore my faded youth,
And when the baby cuts a tooth.
While John, the baby last but one,
Clings round my skirts till day is done;
When fat, good-tempered Jane is glum,
And butcher's man forgets to come.

Sometimes, I say, on days like these,
I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
"Not on some sunny day of ease,
He'll come . . but on a day like this!"
And, in the twinkling of an eye,
These tiresome things will all go by!

And, 'tis a curious thing, but Jane
Is sure, just then, to smile again;
Or, out the truant sun will peep,
And both the babies fall asleep.
The fire burns up with roar sublime,
And butcher's man is just in time.
And oh! My feeble faith grows strong
Sometimes, when everything goes wrong!



Fay Inchfawn

 

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When He Comes

 "When He comes!
My sweetest 'When'!"
C. ROSSETTI.

Thus may it be (I thought) at some
day's close,
Some lilac-haunted eve, when every rose
Breathes forth its incense. May He find
me there,
In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,
In some sweet garden place,
To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!

Or, in my room above,
In silent meditation of His love,
My soul illumined with a rapture rare.
It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes
Might glimpse Him coming in the East-
ern skies,
And be caught up to meet Him in the
air.

But now! Ah, now, the days
Rush by their hurrying ways!
No longer know I vague imaginings,
For every hour has wings.
Yet my heart watches . . . as I work I
say,
All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,
Then wilt Thou find me thus: just as I
am --
Tending my household; stirring goose-
berry jam;
Or swiftly rinsing tiny vests and hose,
With puzzled forehead patching some one's
clothes;
Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and
run,
From early dawn till setting of the sun."

And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,
Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.

 

FAY INCHFAUN

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.Meanings of Christmas

   "It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"

Fr. Andrew Greeley

 

 

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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

 

Longfellow

 

 

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Of the Father's Love Begotten Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done: Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one; All that grows beneath the shining Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore! He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know, That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe, May not henceforth die and perish In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore! O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race; And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore! This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore! O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King! Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore! Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live, On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive; Who at last in vengeance coming Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore! Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing; Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering: Let their guileless songs re-echo, And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore! Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be: Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!   Prudentius (348–413)   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@   BLEAK MIDWINTER   In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk, And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air - But only His mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can, I give Him -Give my heart.In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk, And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air - But only His mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can, I give Him - Give my heart. Christina Rossetti

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THE DAY AFTER

 

 

 

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER

 

THE SHEPHERDS HAD GONE

TRAILING LAUGHTER AND SONG

 

 THE SMELL OF SHEEP

 

DOVES RETURNED TO NESTLE IN THE RAFTERS

 

IT GREW QUIET

IT GREW LONELY

IT GREW ORDINARY

 

THE BABY WAS ASLEEP

 

MARY

JOSEPH

NODDING

 

THE LET DOWN AFTER A TREMENDOUS DAY

 

TIRED MOTHER

TIRED HUSBAND

SLEEPING CHILD

 

HE DID NOT CONSIDER IT BENEATH HIM

TO BE BORN SO HUMBLE

 

RATHER THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

HAVING BEEN FED

CHANGED AND BATHED

SLUMBERED PEACEFULLY

CONTENT TO BE HUMAN

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

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