THE INNOCENT

THE INNOCENT

WHETHER THE STORY
OF THE SLAUGHTER
OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
IN BETHLEHEM
IS TRUE
OR MISGUIDED
HAGIOGRAPHY
IS UNSURE

IT’S CERTAIN
THAT HEROD COULD ORDER IT

BUT WE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE
GOD’S STORY
GREATER
THAN IT IS
IT STARTS OFF BEING GREATER
WE HAVE NO NEED TO AUGMENT IT

BUT THE PAIN
THE STORY
REPRESENTS
IS TRUE

WHETHER
IT’S INFANTICIDE
DEATH BY SICKNESS
OR ACCIDENT
OR KILLED BY WAR
RACHAEL CRIES FOR HER YOUNG
AND WILL NOT BE COMFORTED

SO MANY PEOPLE
WE HAVE KILLED IN GOD’S NAME
SO MANY BY HUNGER
POVERTY
CLIMATE

SO MANY BY THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY WERE BETTER
GOOD TIMES WOULD HAPPEN

THAT GOD SMILES ON THE RICH
BUT NOT THE POOR
AND THAT BEING POOR
REFLECTS
THE MORALITY
OF THE POOR

I DO NOT THINK
THAT GOD CAME
WITH SHEPHERDS
WISE MEN
ANGELS
IN THE SKY
THAT THERE WAS NO STABLE
OR FILLED UP INN

BUT WITH RELATIVES
AND THERE
LIKE A RECURRING REFRAIN

A CHILD IS BORN
WRAPPED IN BIRTHING CLOTHES
NURSING AT HIS MOTHER’S BREAST

GOD IS BORN
TO BE ONE WITH US
WE DO NOT NEED TO GLORIFY IT MORE

BUT TO REMEMBER RACHAEL’S LAMENT
AND GOD WEEPING WITH HER

FRANK A VOLLMER