Christmas
by Helen Graebner
Love
Is more than a faded word
On a wrinkled
Sweatshirt
Or
A word that
Rhymes with dove
In a popular song
More, even,
Than the theme
Of a scholarly sermon
Preached
From a marble pulpit
In a Gothic cathedral
Love
Is being tuned in
To other's needs
So you can catch the tiredness
In a voice
And see the sag
Of weary shoulders
And pitch in
To do the dishes
Or take the garbage out
Love
Is dropping coins
In the Salvation Army
Kettle
Which is easy --
But it is also
Asking the lonely old person
Down the street
To Christmas dinner
Even though he - or she -
Is a whiny complainer.
We can't all age gracefully!
Love
Is seeing through
The thick black clouds
Of bickering,
Prejudice,
Hate and greed
Which hang between
Earth and sky
And catching the gleam
Of the Star --
Still there
Love
Is listening
To hear --
Beyond the cacophony
Of cult-leaders' voices
And the explosions
Of terrorist bombs --
A baby's cry
For God so loves the world
He sends His Son
Bearing Hope
In His hands
Love
Is the most wonderful gift
You can give
Or receive
I wish you
Love
For Christmas
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