Friday, December 18, 2020

"What Little Hope We Have"

 These demands stab at what little hope we have

left buried in the soil of our prayers    Pay now

go there    stop that   Bow down   die

How like we are to the soon exhausted oil left

sputtering in the darkness

                                             Them   forcing us to register

away from here    when all will be ignored before any

return is finished   step madly into the water    and drown

who will even notice

                                            Look     

they have come back

 

Some dark cloud seemed to cover her as

they came to each of us that morning

 When they left for his forced reckoning

                                                                  I doubted

their place would wait that journey’s close

Nevertheless we left it locked against intrusion

Something between them seemed so trusting and

so calm that they gave us just enough morsels

to sustain us

                                  But now

 there is     yes   there is   oh my   this  

she is holding a child    and he is holding her hand

and the guiding cord for the mule

                                                                  a child

I am going to the road

                                             and so are the others  to see

what is  pulling us into their path    what    yes  oh

yes   she is looking at each of us

                                                            and he too  is holding

us with a gaze so fierce as to begin us humming

just to find our breath

                                               yes   oh yes

a child is here

                                to tell us  

                                                       why the light must flare        

 

-- Luke

Christmas. 2020                                 

15 comments:

  1. This Christmas poem is a reflection of those who hope against hope. But the savior has come taking the breath away. Still, we do not recognize.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the poem, Joseph. Powerful, peaceful, hope against hope. What a Christmas present. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. God bless you on your poetic journey as you write to free all our thoughts and help to enlighten our minds!

    ReplyDelete
  4. As Light slowly begins to return to the world in the coming days,
    thank you for reminding me of the Light that fills my being.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Keep your poetry and friendship going. It is fantastic and a great boost for all in this tough time. Come for R and R. Joe
    Damhorst

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brother Joseph, thank you for sharing a timely and much needed message of "Hope". You have spoken at a time when the Divine Light is burning so lowly all around us. In my case I am not so much struggling to ward off hopelessness in this present day struggle between good and evil.For I and many Catholics like me,are in a historic struggling to keep our faith in a Church whose disciples have "sinned against" the Child that is here. Through Truth and Reconciliation His present day disciples must carry His Flare among men as He directed it be carried at the beginning. Until then, God's children who have survived on Hope, we must struggle to "Keep Hope alive", until his flare shines again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for this gift!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for sharing the ‘being’ inside your humanity, Joseph. You are love’s manifestation, fierce and true!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for this one, Joseph. Have a blessed Christmas. Hope to see you in the new year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Had never thought about their return home. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The return of the Divine Feminine is indeed what this time is finally coming ready to see...as only she can balance the wreckage the patriarchy was wrought. Yet, it is to recognize that the patriarchy is the shadow of the Positive Masculine; that which husbands, protects, honors and preserves vs. that which has subjugated, dominated, controlled, warred against 'the better angels of our nature'... Indeed, we welcome the Christ to restore the imbalance. This Christchild is a flame worth givng one's allegiance to. Thank you as always, Joseph for your eloquent crafting. God bless and keep your flame burning.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A great poem to receive as gift on the feast of the Holy Family. Permit me to sit with it for a year or so to explore its corners and plumb its depths.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A thoughtful and provocative poem that requires reflection.A light shining in the darkness. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. So consoling, this poem. My advent reflections led me to the Mary who Joseph has described here. Thank you for this gift.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The poem make you hold your breathe in anticipation.

    ReplyDelete