Christmas Eve

Please read Luke 11:5-13

in the rustle of children

shaking presents,

in the hustle of kittens

scrambling up trees,

you stealthily tunnel

your way under the

flooring;

tossing all the traditional

marches in the shredder,

you collaborate

with the choir director,

composing a simple

oratorio for this night,

stressing that 'the tenors

are going to have to

reach that high note'

cup in hand,

you worm your way

through the office party,

touching us on the

shoulder,

subtly cracking the

combinations

of our frozen hearts,

to slip the still warm

loaves inside.

come,

Saboteur of our weary years,

bringing the Gift we need.

(c) 2009 Thom M. Shuman