For Christmas

 That we were living 

unforgiven, 

the days dark and long

and knew no respite 

from the fall of night

but the hope of

something strong

enough to stand against

the terror,

self-made

that we were not enough. 

The child was born to 

tell the world we are

worthy of his love. 

Whomever, however.

We are here to love and be loved.

And he said

what you have done unto others

you have done to me.

And they did him dirty

for breaking it down like that. 

And for what they did to him, 

I have stayed angry. 

For every hungry soul unfed

for every true martyr bled,

for every hard skulled saint

who blessed the world 

for wanting it to be what it ain't. 

For those who so willing to cough

up nails to hammer into

human frail

flesh, the Herods and 

Pilates who don't understand--

but present themselves in charge. 

I have loved him,

the one I don't worship,

for saying it aloud

in words that shamed the pompous and proud,

the rebel teacher

who said love one another

and meant it enough

to go down for the words. 

I have loved him, detached from the mystery absurd.

And through all of it

I can wish love to you too. 

In the way that injured prophet 

wanted me to. 

For the great tidings

are that life is now, and forgiveness is near

as the asking and 

we are commanded to love,

and if we do,

follow in the way

the light we throw will lengthen the day,

push back the dark, 

rebuke the fear.

This is Christmas. This is rebirth.

The Great Work of bringing peace on earth,

I weep for those who have 

championed his cross

and for all the world, rejoiced at his loss.

And all our many losses too. 

Still peace and good tidings come to you.

And to all your family too. 

But we can not guarantee the good year. 

For the faith you have is not without its fears. 

And the ransom of your soul

has been in arrears,

for what blood was ever enough? 

If not his? 

But sin persists. 

And the lack of love,

and the promotion of it,

and if the Spirit was a Dove

it would baptize you in its shit.