Thursday, December 25, 2014

A Villanelle for Christmas

A Villanelle for Christmas

Angels call and wait, proclaiming
Crooked wings and holy fire
Can this word be still sustaining?

All our foolish wisdom claiming
A silver star on copper wire
Angels call and wait, proclaiming.

Broken hearts forget their training
broken bones and hands conspire
can this word be still sustaining?

Every neck is upward craning
hoping still to hear the crier-
angels call, and wait, proclaiming.

Will the tired coals turn flaming?
Will the child again inspire?
Can this Word be still sustaining?

Holy, wailing, child inspire
Grace unswaddled, still reclaiming.
Angels call and wait, proclaiming-
can this word be still sustaining?