Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Christmas Eve

"And he will come to Zion as
   Redeemer," Isaiah 59:20a

when the grumblers
try to sneak in and grab
all the wonder and joy
of the season, while humming
mournful dirges,
Hope comes out of the kitchen
with hot chocolate and cookies
to warm them before going out
to sing carols in the parks.

when the purveyors of panic
never close their doors, but
offer sale after sale on all
the fear imaginable and not,
providing discounts on 
weapons of mass polarization,
Peace still wanders the weary streets,
placing luminaria in front of every home
so folks might find their way
to one another.

when gloom knocks on the door
calling out, "package!"
trying to entice us to open 
the door so it can wrap its arms
tight around us, pulling us
into its dreary embrace,

Delight grabs us by the hand,
and we sneak out the back,
picking up our sleds so we can
go through the neighborhood,
inviting everyone to join us
racing down the steep hill,
where we will stand around
an open fire, toasting marshmallows
and singing, 
'Joy to the World . . .'

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman

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