2012-12-25

December 25

Today's the day we've all been waiting for ... or at least that a lot of us have been waiting for, so in honor of the occasion and in light of the fact that I have had my own personal relationship to this holiday for quite some time, I'd like to share with you a moment of my youth. This is the first poem of which I have a record (that is, from 1968), and I would like to share it with all of you. The title is the same as today's entry:

"Good will to men!"
Choirs of angels sing,
Lifting their voices high.
Stories of gifts
The Wise Men did bring,
But I ask myself why?
Where has the love for other men
Gone in these passing days?
Why has the Christ one
Clear in Christmas
Faded to a haze?
Kettles clink with too few coins
Too many eat too well,
While all the while in some dark corner
Hungry faces tell
Of sadness, hunger, loss of hope –
Why should they rejoice?
'Cause no matter how loud they cry
No one hears their voice.
But, as all good Christians usually do
On this happy day
They turn their backs,
Sit down to eat and
Go on their merry way.

No comments: