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AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF POETRY CENTERING ON THE ADVENT SEASON
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COME LEVELER OF MOUNTAINS
COME
COME STRAIGHTENER OF CROOKED
WAYS
COME LION TAMER LAMB CARRIER
COME
COME RISING SUN TO WARM OUR DAY
COME CONVERTER OF WEAPONS TO
FARMWARE
COME BRINGER OF THE WINE AND THE
WHEAT
COME FLOURISHING TREE OF
JESSE
COME MAKE YOUR CREATION
COMPLETE
COME GIVE A SIGN OH SILENT
GOD
COME GIVE A SIGN WE TEMPT YOU
STILL
SO SILENT GOD WE THOUGHT YOU
DEAD
COME MARY'S CHILD WE LOVE YOU
STILL
COME SILENT GOD WITH THUNDER
VOICE
EARTH'S VALLEYS AND THE DESERT
FILL
SPEAK GOD FOR IN YOUR SILENCE
LONG
WE FEEL THAT WE ARE ORPHANS
STILL
COME MARY'S CHILD LONG COMING
COME
COME SMASHER OF THE YOKE AND
ROD
COME CHILD AND LEAD US IN THE
DANCE
COME FRIEND AND SPEAK...BE NOT SILENT
GOD
COME LORD JESUS COME
AGAIN
BRING THE WHEAT AND GENTLE RAIN
COME AGAIN
FRANK A VOLLMER
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.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN
GOD
I AGREE WITH THE
ATHEISTS
I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE
GOD
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN
EITHER
THE WHITE
BEARDED
MONARCH
WHO WILLY NILLY
INFLICTS PAIN
WHO IS
DISINTERESTED
IN THE WORLD HE
CREATED
I DON'T BELIEVE
IN THIS GOD
I BELIEVE IN A GOD
OF HOPE AND
PROMISE
A GOD WHO SAYS
I'll create Jerusalem as sheer
joy,
create my people as pure
delight.
I'll take joy in Jerusalem,
take delight in my
people:
No more sounds of weeping in the
city,
no cries of
anguish;
No more babies dying in the
cradle,
or old people who don't enjoy a full
lifetime;
One-hundredth birthdays will be considered
normal—
anything less will seem like a
cheat.
They'll build
houses
and move in.
They'll plant
fields
and eat what they grow.
No more building a
house
that some outsider takes
over,
No more planting
fields
that some enemy
confiscates,
For my people will be as long-lived as
trees,
my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their
work.
They won't work and have nothing come of
it,they won't have children snatched out from under
them.
GOD HAS PROMISED
I BELIEVE IT
IT WILL BE SO
I BELIEVE
THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATUS
QUO
IS AN IRRELIGIOUS
ACT
A BETRAYAL
OF HIM
WHO GAVE US THE
WORLD
TO CARE FOR
IS THE WORLD
BETTER
FOR DIFFERENT
CREEDS
WHERE IS THE PROOF IN THE
PUDDING
SAVE ME FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
WHO SING
PRAISE GOD
ALL THE DAY
AND DO NOTHING
IT'S A WONDER
THE ATHEIST'S FIRE
DOESN'T FLARE
HIGHER
WE FEED IT SO MUCH
FUEL
Before they call out, I'll
answer.
Before they've finished
speaking,
I'll have heard
Wolf and lamb will graze the same
meadow,
lion and ox eat straw from the same
trough,
but snakes—they'll get a diet of
dirt!
Neither animal nor human will hurt or
kill
anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says
God.
IN THIS ADVENT
SEASON
COME AGAIN
LORD JESUS
COME AGAIN
LET THE MIRACLE
OF YOUR
INCARNATION
INFUSE SOCIETY
AND LET THEIR BE
NO MORE KILLING
ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN
FRANK A VOLLMER
………………Immigrant
(Matthew 25:35)...
The
alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall
love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the
Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew
25:35)...
SO QUICK HAD THEY
LEFT
THE ANGEL HAD GIVEN THEM NO
TIME
HEROD WOULD DIM HIS
SMILE
FOREVER
QUICK
BE GONE
WHERE SHALL I FIND
WORK
TO FEED AND CLOTHE
AND SHELTER MY
FAMILY
I
A STRANGER
IN A STRANGE LAND
WHOSE WAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM
MINE
WHOSE GODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM
MINE
WHOSE SPEECH IS DIFFERENT FROM
MINE
I HAVE SKILLS
IF THEY'LL LET ME USE
THEM
PERHAPS THE SHIPYARDS ON THE
SUEZ
WILL HAVE WORK
BUT WHATEVER WORK IS THERE
I'LL DO
WILL PEOPLE LOOK ASKANCE AT OUR
CLOTHES
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO
PACK
WHAT WE'RE WEARING
IS WHAT WE HAVE
WE ARE TOLD TO WELCOME THE
STRANGER
IN OUR MIDST
A RULE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL
RELIGIONS
MAY GOD BE WITH ME IN THE NEW
LAND
IF THINGS WE'RE BETTER AT
HOME
I WOULD NEVER HAVE
LEFT
BUT THE CHOICE IS NOT
MINE
IF THE CHILD SHOULD
LIVE
AND BRING HIS
SMILE
TO THE WORLD
FRANK A VOLLMER
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ADVENT IN AUSCHWITZ (MATTHEW
25:45)
WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE
CATTLE
SO SINGS THE POET WILFRED
OWEN
OF SOLDIERS
KILLED
IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE
CATTLE
WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIED
AT AUSCHWITZ
BERGEN-BELSEN
TREBLINKA
NOT THE ONLY DISASTER
TO HAVE HAPPENED
BUT THIS HAPPENED
IN MY LIFETIME
TO PEOPLE
SOME OF WHOM
BORE MY LAST NAME
DID NOT MESSIAH
ROAM THESE CAMPS
CRYING
THIS IS NOT RELIGION
BUT
HATRED
EACH ONE WHO DIES
DIES AS CHRIST
EACH ONE WHO DIES
IS A LILY IN THE FIELD
BELOVED BY ITS MAKER
EACH ONE WHO IS SHOT
GASSED
STARVED
HUNG
BURNED
CRIES OUT
WHERE IS YOUR RELIGION
THE JEWS CRY FOR A
MESSIAH
CHRISTIANS CRY FOR A
MESSIAH
PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM NOT
CRY FOR A MESSIAH
BUT HE WILL NOT INTRUDE
HE MADE THE WORLD FOR US
GAVE US DOMINION
BECAUSE WE WOULD PREFER TO EAT THE
FRUIT
HE GAVE US DOMINION
MAKE IT WORK
HE SAID
YOU WANTED DOMINION
MAKE IT WORK
I TREASURE
EVERY LILY IN THE FIELD
GARDENER
TEND YOUR FLOWERS
FRANK A
VOLLMER
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SOLILOQUY - O
COME EMMANUEL
O COME O COME
EMMANUEL
TO MY LONELY
BED
WHERE THE HOURS
GO SLOWLY
AND SLEEP
ESCAPES ME
COME
EMMANUEL
COME
EMMANUEL
COME DAY STAR
AND HELP ME
FIND MORNING
COME
ROD OF JESSE
COME
AND GIVE ME
VICTORY OVER THE GRAVE
FOR DEATH AND
I
HAVE BECOME
FRIENDS
COME O COME O
MIGHTY GOD
WHO DWELT ONCE
ON HIGH
WHO DWELT ONCE
AMONG US
WHO DWELLS NOW
WITHIN US
COME
COME GOD OF
FORGIVENESS
AND OF
PEACE
LET YOUR WAYS
BE MINE
COME O
COME
DESIRE OF ALL
NATIONS COME
COME AS SLEEP
COMES TO MY EYES
COME
AS I LET YOU
RULE YOUR WORLD
COME
AND GIVE ME
REST
FRANK A
VOLLMER
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LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
NOW AT THE DARKEST PART OF THE
YEAR
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF
WINTER
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
ODD THE SUN IS SO CLOSE TO THE EARTH IN
WINTER
SO THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE A SLIVER THAT QUICKLY
PASSES
BUT LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
LIKE WHEAT THAT SPRINGETH
GREEN
IT NEEDED DARKNESS TO BEGIN
FROM THIS POINT ON THE SUN GROWS
STRONGER
ODD THE DAY SHOULD BE THE
WARMEST
WHEN THE SUN IS FAR AWAY
BUT IN THE VERY DEAD OF
WINTER
WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
WHEN NIGHT AND COLD HAS COME TO FREEZE US IN
PLACE
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
LOVE HAS COME AGAIN
FRANK A VOLLMER
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IN
POLAND
IN WARSAW
IN THE JEWISH
CEMETERY
IN ONE OF THE
TOMBS
A WOMAN GAVE
BIRTH
HER ONLY
ATTENDANT
THE
CARETAKER
WHO WAS HIDING
TOO
HE
SAID
PERHAPS THIS
ONE IS THE MESSIAH
BORN SO
LOWLY
DESPISED
AND SPIT
UPON
PERHAPS HE IS
THE MESSIAH
THE CHRISTIAN
MESSIAH
HAS BROUGHT US
NO PEACE
BUT HE WATCHED
HIS DREAM FADE
AS THE CHILD
SUCKED ON HIS
MOTHER’S TEARS
HER BREASTS
WERE DRY
THE
CHILD
SUCKED ON HIS
MOTHER’S TEARS
AND
DIED
EVENTUALLY
THEY WERE
FOUND
AND WENT UP IN
SMOKE
THE NEARBY
VILLAGERS
SMELLED THE
SMOKE
AND KNEW WHAT
IT WAS
THEIR HOMES
STANK OF IT
THEY CALLED IT
JEWISH
PERFUME
IN A
WORLD
STILL
PLAGUED
BY
WAR
HUNGER
AND
HATRED
CAN WE NOT
SAY
WHERE IS
MESSIAH
WHERE IS
MESSIAH
FRANK A
VOLLMER
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POETRY BY ISAIAH
A SHOOT
SHALL COME
OUT
FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE,
AND A BRANCH
SHALL GROW OUT OF HIS
ROOTS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
SHALL REST ON HIM,
THE SPIRIT OF
WISDOM
AND UNDERSTANDING,
THE SPIRIT OF
COUNSEL
AND MIGHT,
THE SPIRIT OF
KNOWLEDGE
AND THE FEAR OF THE
LORDHIS DELIGHT
SHALL BE IN THE
FEAR
OF THE
LORD
HE SHALL NOT
JUDGE
BY WHAT HIS EYES SEE,
OR DECIDE BY WHAT HIS EARS
HEAR;
BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
HE SHALL JUDGE THE
POOR,
AND DECIDE WITH
EQUITY
FOR THE MEEK OF THE
EARTH;
HE SHALL STRIKE THE
EARTH
WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH,
AND WITH THE BREATH
OF HIS LIPS
HE SHALL KILL THE
WICKED.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
SHALL BE THE BELT AROUND HIS WAIST,
AND
FAITHFULNESS
THE BELT AROUND HIS
LOINS
THE WOLF
THE WOLF
SHALL LIVE WITH THE LAMB,
THE LEOPARD
SHALL LIE DOWN WITH
THE KID,
THE CALF
AND THE LION
AND THE FATLING
TOGETHER,
AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD
THEM.
THE COW AND THE BEAR
THE COW AND THE BEAR
SHALL
GRAZE,
THEIR YOUNG SHALL LIE DOWN TOGETHER;
AND THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW LIKE
THE OX.
THE NURSING CHILD
THE NURSING CHILD
SHALL PLAY OVER THE
HOLE
OF THE
ASP,
AND THE WEANED CHILD
SHALL PUT ITS HAND
ON THE ADDER'S
DEN
THEY WILL NOT HURT
THEY WILL NOT HURT
OR DESTROY
ON ALL MY HOLY
MOUNTAIN;
FOR THE EARTH WILL
BE FULL
OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF
THE LORD
AS THE WATERS COVER
THE SEA
ON THAT
DAY
THE ROOT OF JESSE
SHALL STAND
AS A SIGNAL TO THE
PEOPLES;
THE
NATIONS
SHALL INQUIRE OF HIM,
AND HIS DWELLING
SHALL BE
GLORIOUS
POETRY BY
ISAIAH
THE WILDERNESS
AND THE DRY
LAND
SHALL BE
GLAD,
THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE
AND BLOSSOM;
LIKE THE
CROCUS
IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY,
IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY,
AND REJOICE WITH JOY
AND SINGING.
THE GLORY OF LEBANON
SHALL BE GIVEN TO
IT,
THE MAJESTY OF
CARMEL
AND SHARON.
THEY SHALL SEE THE
GLORY
OF THE LORD,
THE MAJESTY OF OUR
GOD.
STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS,
STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS,
AND MAKE
FIRM
THE FEELE
KNEES.
THE BURNING SAND
SHALL BECOME A POOL,
AND THE THIRSTY GROUND
SPRINGS OF WATER;
THE HAUNT OF
JACKALS
SHALL BECOME A SWAMP,
THE GRASS
SHALL BECOME REEDS AND
RUSHES
A HIGHWAY
SHALL BE
THERE,A HIGHWAY
AND IT SHALL BE
CALLED
THE HOLY WAY;
THE
UNCLEAN
SHALL NOT TRAVEL ON
IT
BUT IT SHALL BE FOR
GOD'S PEOPLE;
NO TRAVELER,
NOT EVEN
FOOLS,
SHALL GO
ASTRAY
NO LION
NO LION
SHALL BE THERE,
NOR SHALL ANY
RAVENOUS BEAST
COME UP ON IT;
THEY SHALL NOT BE
FOUND THERE,
BUT THE REDEEMED SHALL WALK
THERE.
AND THE RANSOMED
AND THE RANSOMED
OF THE LORD
SHALL RETURN,
AND COME TO
ZION
WITH SINGING;
EVERLASTING JOY
SHALL BE UPON THEIR
HEADS;
THEY SHALL OBTAIN JOY
AND GLADNESS,
AND SORROW
AND
SIGHING
SHALL FLEE
AWAY
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POETRY BY
ISAIAH
O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS
AND COME DOWN,
SO THAT THE
MOUNTAINS
WOULD QUAKE AT YOUR
PRESENCE--
AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD
AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD
AND THE FIRE CAUSES
WATER TO BOIL—
TO MAKE YOUR NAME
KNOWN
TO YOUR ADVERSARIES,
SO THAT THE NATIONS
MIGHT TREMBLE
AT YOUR
PRESENCE!
WHEN YOU DID AWESOME DEEDS
WHEN YOU DID AWESOME DEEDS
THAT WE DID NOT
EXPECT,
YOU CAME DOWN,
THE MOUNTAINS
QUAKED
AT YOUR
PRESENCE
FROM AGES
PAST
NO ONE HAS
HEARD,
NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED,
NO EYE HAS
SEEN
ANY GOD BESIDES YOU,
WHO WORKS FOR
THOSE
WHO WAIT FOR
HIM
YOU MEET THOSE
YOU MEET THOSE
WHO GLADLY DO RIGHT,
THOSE WHO REMEMBER
YOU
IN YOUR
WAYS
BUT YOU WERE
ANGRY
AND WE
SINNED;
BECAUSE YOU HID
YOURSELF
WE
TRANSGRESSED.
WE HAVE ALL
WE HAVE ALL
BECOME LIKE ONE WHO IS UNCLEAN,
AND ALL OUR
RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
ARE LIKE A FILTHY
CLOTH.
WE ALL FADE LIKE A
LEAF
AND OUR
INIQUITIES
LIKE THE
WIND
TAKE US
AWAY.
THERE IS NO ONE
THERE IS NO ONE
WHO CALLS ON YOUR
NAME,
OR ATTEMPTS TO TAKE HOLD OF YOU;
FOR YOU HAVE HIDDEN
YOUR FACE FROM
US,
AND HAVE DELIVERED
US
INTO THE HAND OF OUR
INIQUITY
YET, O LORD,
YET, O LORD,
YOU ARE OUR FATHER;
WE ARE THE CLAY,
AND YOU ARE OUR
POTTER;
WE ARE ALL THE WORK OF YOUR
HAND.
DO NOT
DO NOT
BE EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY, O LORD,
AND DO NOT
REMEMBER
INIQUITY
FOREVER.
NOW
CONSIDER
WE ARE ALL YOUR PEOPLE.
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POETRY BY
ISAIAH
COMFORT,
O COMFORT MY
PEOPLE,
SAYS YOUR GOD
SPEAK TENDERLY
SPEAK TENDERLY
TO
JERUSALEM
AND CRY TO HER
THAT SHE HAS SERVED
HER TERM,
THAT HER PENALTY IS
PAID,
THAT SHE HAS
RECEIVED
FROM THE LORD'S
HAND
DOUBLE FOR ALL HER
SINS.
A VOICE CRIES OUT
A VOICE CRIES OUT
IN THE WILDERNESS
PREPARE THE WAY OF
THE LORD,
MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE
DESERT
A HIGHWAY FOR OUR
GOD.
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED UP,
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED UP,
AND EVERY
MOUNTAIN
AND HILL
BE MADE
LOW;
THE UNEVEN
GROUND
SHALL BECOME
LEVEL,
AND THE ROUGH PLACES A
PLAIN.
THEN THE GLORY
THEN THE GLORY
OF THE LORD
SHALL BE REVEALED,
AND ALL PEOPLE
SHALL SEE IT
TOGETHER,
FOR THE MOUTH OF THE
LORD
HAS SPOKEN."
A VOICE SAYS,
A VOICE SAYS,
"CRY
OUT!"
AND I SAID,
"
WHAT SHALL I CRY?"
ALL PEOPLE ARE
GRASS,
THEIR
CONSTANCY
IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF THE
FIELD.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE FLOWER FADES,
WHEN THE BREATH OF
THE LORD
BLOWS UPON
IT;
SURELY THE PEOPLE ARE
GRASS
THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE FLOWER
FADES;
BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD
WILL STAND
FOREVER
GET YOU UP TO A HIGH MOUNTAIN,
GET YOU UP TO A HIGH MOUNTAIN,
O ZION,
HERALD OF GOOD
TIDINGS;
LIFT UP YOUR VOICE
WITH
STRENGTH,
O
JERUSALEM,
HERALD OF GOOD
TIDINGS,
LIFT IT UP,
DO NOT FEAR;
SAY TO THE CITIES OF
JUDAH, "
HERE IS YOUR
GOD!"
SEE,
SEE,
THE LORD GOD COMES
WITH
MIGHT,
AND HIS ARM RULES FOR
HIM;
HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM,
AND HIS RECOMPENSE BEFORE
HIM
HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK
HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK
LIKE A
SHEPHERD;
HE WILL GATHER THE
LAMBS
IN HIS ARMS,
AND CARRY
THEM
IN HIS BOSOM,
AND GENTLY
LEAD
THE MOTHER SHEEP
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ISAIAH 1
NOT A
STUMP
A BRANCH SHALL
COME
FROM THE TRUNK OF JESSE’S
FAMILY TREE
WISE
UNDERSTANDING
CONSOLING
MIGHTY
PRINCE
OF PEACE
A BETTER IMAGE THAN STUMP
OF FORESTS
DENUDED
AS THE ASSYRIANS
DID
TO THE LAND
AROUND JERUSALEM
BUT THE PROMISES OF GOD
WEREN’T IN THE FORESTS OR
THE CITY
THE SON OF DAVID WOULD COME
THE LINEAGE OF
DAVID
WOULD PROGRESS
FATHER TO
SON
UNTIL FULFILLED IN
CHRIST
NOT A STUMP
BUT A TREE WOULD
SURVIVE
NOT A WASTELAND
BUT A LAND
RESEEDED
BY THE MOTHER
TREE
NOT A
WASTELAND
BUT A TREE
WHERE THOSE WHO WERE
SCATTERED
LIKE FRIGHTENED
BIRDS
COULD
COME BACK
AND FIND
REFUGE
THE PROMISE
THE LINEAGE
WOULD COME
TRUE
THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL
ONCE MORE BEARS
FRUIT
AND WE ARE ASKED TO
PARTAKE
THIS IS MY BODY
MY BLOOD
COME
AND BE PART OF ME
In Such an Hour
Sometimes, when everything goes
wrong:
When days are short, and nights are long;
When wash-day brings so dull a sky
That not a single thing will dry.
And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
And when there's naught so "queer" as
folks!
When friends deplore my faded youth,
And when the baby cuts a tooth.
While John, the baby last but one,
Clings round my skirts till day is done;
When fat, good-tempered Jane is glum,
And butcher's man forgets to come.
Sometimes, I say, on days like these,
I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
"Not on some sunny day of ease,
He'll come . . but on a day like this!"
And, in the twinkling of an eye,
These tiresome things will all go by!
And, 'tis a curious thing, but Jane
Is sure, just then, to smile again;
Or, out the truant sun will peep,
And both the babies fall asleep.
The fire burns up with roar sublime,
And butcher's man is just in time.
And oh! My feeble faith grows strong
Sometimes, when everything goes wrong!
Fay Inchfawn
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.
When He Comes
"When He comes!
My sweetest 'When'!"
C. ROSSETTI.
Thus may it be (I thought) at some
day's close,
Some lilac-haunted eve, when every rose
Breathes forth its incense. May He find
me there,
In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,
In some sweet garden place,
To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!
Or, in my room above,
In silent meditation of His love,
My soul illumined with a rapture rare.
It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes
Might glimpse Him coming in the East-
ern skies,
And be caught up to meet Him in the
air.
But now! Ah, now, the days
Rush by their hurrying ways!
No longer know I vague imaginings,
For every hour has wings.
Yet my heart watches . . . as I work I
say,
All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,
Then wilt Thou find me thus: just as I
am --
Tending my household; stirring goose-
berry jam;
Or swiftly rinsing tiny vests and hose,
With puzzled forehead patching some one's
clothes;
Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and
run,
From early dawn till setting of the sun."
And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,
Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.
FAY
INCHFAUN
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.Meanings of Christmas
"It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"
Fr. Andrew Greeley
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I Heard the
Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Longfellow
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Of the Father's Love Begotten
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds
began to be,
|
Prudentius (348–413)
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 BLEAK MIDWINTER
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