Xmas

IT WAS THE COMING ON OF EVENING

THE SHADOWS GATHERING IN THE CORNERS

SPILLING OUT

FILING THE ROOM WHERE HE SAT

CONTENT

AT EASE

HAPPY TO BE AT HOME

SITTING IN THE DARKNESS

AT EVENING

CONTENT

IT HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN SO

IT WAS AN ACQUIRED HABIT

FOR LONG

HE HAD BEEN TOO BUSY

PREOCCUPIED

TO ENJOY THE DAILY TRIVIA

OF ORDINARY LIVING

BUT ONCE HE'D LEFT IT

ONCE HE'D GONE OFF

HE'D MISSED IT

SO THAT HE SAT IN THE DARK

QUIET AT TABLE

CONTENT

WAITING FOR HIS MOTHER

TO COME HOME

SUCH A NORMAL FEELING

WAITING WARM

IN HIS HOME

FOR HIS MOTHER

TO COME HOME

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN THIS YEAR

ON SOME LOST BOAT ON SOME LOST SEA

EXILED FROM MY COUNTRY AND NO OTHER PLACE

TO CALL HOME

SHALL I BE BORN AT SEA

OR IN A CAMP SUCKING DRYNESS

FROM MY MOTHER'S

WITHERED BREAST

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

OR SHALL I BE BORN IN AN OLD MAN'S WHIMPER

WHO FINDS HIS INCOME CANNOT PAY

FOR RENT AND FOOD AND FUEL

AND IN THE TWILIGHT OF HIS YEARS

FINDS HUNGER HIS REWARD FOR SERVICE

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

THOSE WHO FIND THEIR LIFE DIMINISHED

BY FORCES OUT OF THEIR CONTROL

WHO ALSO FIND NO REASON FOR THEIR PAIN

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

PERHAPS AGAIN IN A STABLE

REJECTED

NOT ABLE TO JOIN THE PARTY

AT THE INN

SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE

A DOWN SYNDROME CHILD

OR ONE WITH AIDS

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

GOOD EVENING MOM

HAVE YOU BEEN HERE LONG

I DON'T KNOW

I DON'T THINK SO

BESIDES

IT'S NICE JUST SITTING HERE

QUIET

IN OUR HOME

WAITING

ON THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN

FRANK A VOLLMER