First Thursday of Advent

"The cords of death encompassed me;

    the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me."  Psalm 18:4-5

you gently wash away

the vernix caseosa of 

pandemonium off of us

using the warm waters of life,

you swaddle us in 

the warm blankets woven

from the strands of grace and love,

you hold us in your arms

so we can feel your warm

breath upon us, and then

you place us in that cradle

crafted from the pieces

of a discarded cross.

(c) 2023 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman