Silent night, Holy night,
Christmas cards, tinsel and bells,
tender turkey and blood red ham,
springtime lambs, fleecy white,
pure and clean, each of us saved
by the power of righteous living,
going to heaven, holding tight:
forget the dark, the dirt, the dung,
antiseptic stable, deluxe suite,
halos shining golden and bright,
desert wanderers gone too far:
the best of food, of wine, of coin,
German cars and beautiful wives,
filtered pools and unstained lives,
forget the thirst, the despair, the pain,
silver crosses, three-piece shrouds –
Simon Sorcerer knows why he came –
blood and tears lost in the years,
we’ll smile and go to church again:
but without pain, there is no healing,
and without sacrifice,
there is no salvation.
by Kristin Jack, who lived with his family for 17 years in Cambodia. From his book Poetry and Prophecy
Tags:
