What do we do in times like these?
What did we do yesterday and the day before?
We sat and talked of hope and lived in comfort,
Waiting for the Christ Child to be born.
Today tragedy woke us in gunfire.
We stare broken and confused,
And tomorrow, again, children will be swallowed in death,
Waiting for the Christ Child to be born.
We sit behind closed doors and chafe,
Or walk along the street and feebly cry hope.
We ask each other how all this could happen,
Waiting for the Christ Child to be born.
What do we do in times like these?
Nothing. Just like yesterday when we were free.
Hope has turned to talk and flight.
When will our Christ Child come?
Open our doors and hearts,
Bring us to our knees and tears.
Send us out to a foreign world,
Fill us with warrior love.
Comfort, comfort your people, Lord,
But only with the comfort that fights.
Give us hope reborn that lives
Declaring the Christ Child is born.
Give us faith that carries sickness, loneliness, and death.
Make us hear the singing host
And ring the bell of peace.
Joy will conquer every ill.
Our Christ Child is among us still.
Bethany, such good work. Thank you for posting it. It's been a hard thing for me to even think about, and I'm connected to none of these people in actuality.
ReplyDeleteThis poem reminds me a little of The Risk of Birth by Madeleine L'Engle. Have you read it?
Thank you, Bobbi!
ReplyDeleteJust found that poem here
http://rynomi.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/the-risk-of-birth/
Wow! It's amazing. Thank you so much for mentioning it. Writing it out now...