Wednesday, December 25, 2013

A Christmas Prayer

Sharon’s Christmas Prayer


She was five,
 sure of the facts,
 and recited them
 with slow solemnity
 convinced every word
 was revelation.


 She said
 they were so poor
 they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
 to eat
 and they went a long way from home
 without getting lost. The lady rode
 a donkey, the man walked, and the baby
 was inside the lady.


 They had to stay in a stable
 with an ox and an ass (hee-hee)
 but the Three Rich Men found them
 because a star lited the roof.
 Shepherds came and you could
 pet the sheep but not feed them.
 Then the baby was borned.
 And do you know who he was?


 Her quarter eyes inflated
 to silver dollars.
 The baby was God.

 And she jumped in the air
 whirled around, dove into the sofa
 and buried her head under the cushion
 which is the only proper response
 to the Good News of the Incarnation.


– John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected


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