A CHRISTMAS POEM

BORN BEFORE LIFE
BREATHED INTO CLAY
WHEN LIGHT AND AIR
WERE NEW

BORN IN THE LIGHT
OF A GREAT NEW STAR
NIGHT WIND BLOWING COLD
OVER THE AGES OF TIME
 AND ALL THE PROPHET'S WORDS

OUR FRIEND
WENT ABOUT IN RAGS
STAINED BY SWEAT
 AND THE DUST OF MILES WALKED
FEET SOMETIMES BARED
TO THE SHARP OF STONES

ALONE
AMONG THE BEST OF FRIENDS

AND IN HIM WAS THE CONSTANT PEACE
OF WATER
WAVE ON WAVE
RESISTING NOTHING
CLEANSING ALL IT TOUCHES
ROCKING BOATS
WHERE TIRED FISHERMEN
MEND NETS
AND COUNT THEIR CATCH
DRIFTING
TOWARD THE DISTANT LAMPS OF HOME
TOWARD LIFE BEYOND ALL LIFE
AND UNDERSTANDING

LIFE

THOUGH ALL THE SUNS GO DARK
AND ALL THE OCEANS FREEZE                 
  
(FOR GLEN LOWE, DEC/17/1983,  REH)