though heartsick, crestfallen, eyes cast low,
a clarion call rings forth
inviting heavenly gaze and vision to rise
for eternity
slips through time
and earth clasps the fingers of heaven
this is his day
years upon years
mysteries obstructed
His voice stilled
and silenced
His nation lay hushed
biding
anticipating
expecting
they had not heard, but had not forgotten
stillness,
not for a lifetime, not for two
but as many decades
as there were nights
of an ancient storm
that swelled the waters
until the twig signaled new
silence is not forgetfulness
does the sun forget to rise?
promises pledged
a visitation portended
a birth
a life
a sacrifice
he came to his own
his own did not accept him
a glimmer past
shimmers this day
chasing darkness, and grayness, and dimness away
sacred remembrance, holy occasion,
echo of love being born
dutiful husband, pondering bride
witnesses together
of light piercing darkness
hope pulling down fear
of faith splitting doubt
love entered here
_____
On Love’s birthday I pray that that your heart be the manger,
and the baby, your Savior,
and the angels to surround you, and whisper
that you are safe,
and known,
and loved.
That you are reading this is a most splendid Christmas gift to me.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
How splendid this is, Craig!
Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas!
it’s a splendid subject Martha, and thank you for your Christmas wishes, not lots of joy in terms of happy happy, but deeper joy in my Christmas this year – humble – and very, very, humbled. But blessed. Merry Christmas to you too my friend.
In my humble opinion, this is some of your finest work. Thank you for sharing this, Craig. Praying that you be blessed with an intimate visitation from the Holy One this Christmas. O come, o come, Emmanuel.
I don’t write poems, Andrea Dawn. They take too much out of me. I’m a prose guy. Thank you for your kind words as always. I have the same wish for you this Christmas – and our Lord will be there in mine – probably just him, and me, and the love kitty – and that’s okay. Merry Christmas Andrea Dawn.
Dear Craig,
I love how Andrea Dawn said it
May you be blessed with an intimate visitation from the Holy One this Christmas.
I pray that for you, too, a more intimate visitation than usual. I am sending you greetings via e-mail so I can attach a picture.
Merry Christmas,
Dawn
thank you Dawn, and I got the picture of you, and your man, and the muttlies – made me smile. Merry Christmas.
Craig ~ this is so lovely and I like the one on Deep Into Love also – but this better. Perhaps because this year more than ever I am feeling His love … His presence. This year He has cradled me in His arms and told me that He loved me … that He would never leave me.
And I know this to be true for all of His followers. All who love Him too.
You have grown so much this year, Craig. I know you are painfully aware of that. He has held you tighter, whispered ever more urgently. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, know that you are very special and well loved by more people than you know. May you find comfort in that blessing. May you always find joy and peace in Him.
Much love,
Felecia
Felicia, a quiet, humble, simple, almost not there Christmas for me this year – thank you for your kind words, they’re having a hard time breaking through because of this month, but you put them out anyway, and I’m grateful. And HIM? I’m not me without him,and rightmost of my joy, and all peace that I have, it’s coming from Him. Thank you again, God bless you.
So many beautiful thoughts here, Craig, and so well expressed. For one, “eternity
slips through time and earth clasps the fingers of heaven” builds awe in me, the more I contemplate it. And the photo of the manger with the shadow of the cross falling over it made me catch my breath. A favorite “Christmas decoration” we had out for several years (till part of it started disintegrating) was a manger with a cross behind it, spotlit together. Thank you for all this. And another amen to Andrea Dawn’s prayer.
thank you Sylvia, the eternal God living human life, eternity wrapped in time, it’s a paradox. From the beginning the shadow of the Cross DID lie over the manger, and as was said to Mary, “a sword shall pierce your heart”. Thank you for the Amen to Andrea Dawn’s prayer, and God bless and keep you.