Third Tuesday of Advent

Read Psalm 85

        and don't call me shirley

in the rainbow
    prisming through
        the waterfall of
            icicles hanging from
                the roof,
surely,
                    your beauty
            is at hand;
in the mother
    suckling her baby
        at three in the morning,
      her fatigue-rimmed eyes
            watching the snow
                falling gently
                outside the window,
surely
                    your grace
            is at hand;

in the family
    who,
                rather than gifting
        themselves this year,
            supports the shelter
    for homeless families,
            even offering their
                 presence,
surely
                    your hope
            is at hand;

in the familiar
            carols
    whose hallowed refrains
                crack
                    our voices;
in the little acolyte
        lighting the advent
            wreath on your Eve,
    whose eyes shatter
                our souls;
in that story
    we could recite backwards,
            whose promises
                still prick
                our ears,
surely,
                    your salvation
            is as close
    as your
                heart.

© 2010  Thom M. Shuman