Christmas Eve

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 feeble 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. (Isaiah 35:1-10)

         still

when the grinchies
   would steal the season
   right from under us with
            their sad mournful
            songs about the
            state of the world,
      still
                 Hope stands
               on the corner,
         her sweet soprano floating
            above the carolers
         in the silent night;

when the fearmongers
   keep their stores open 24/7,
          rattling sabres in
             front of wide-eyed
             children,
           opening up their stockpiles
                 of might so all may buy,
      still         
                   Peace wanders
         the world, its light
             piercing the shadows
           drawing all people closer
                       together;

when despair stares
                  us in the eye,
         daring us to find any
            reason to step outside
               of our worries
               and doubts,
      still
                  Delight throws
           the front door,
              grabs us by
              the hand,
         sits behind us on
             the sled
   and wrapping his arms
   tight around our waist,
      pushes off from the
               top of Zion Hill,
        singing, 'Joy to the
              world . . .'

(c) 2012 Thom M. Shuman