Readers' Christmas poetry

Last Updated Wednesday, December 12, 2012 2:07:46 PM

Readers' Christmas poetry

By OSV readers - OSV Newsweekly, 12/23/2012

Love Beyond All Telling

O Love beyond all telling

Our Creator descends to earth

Coming through a lowly virgin

’Tis the dawn of our rebirth

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A resplendent light filled the sky

The shepherds made haste to see

Filled with awe seeing a child

Now adoring they bend the knee

The hills of Bethlehem ring for joy

All the angels raise their voice

Shepherds and Magi do Him homage

Let the heavens and earth rejoice

O Love beyond all telling

God shares His divinity with man

No greater love ere been known

To us a Savior is born

Let our hearts become a Bethlehem

Where Jesus longs to be

Share this gift with all the world

We’ll be happy for eternity.

Luke 2:1-14

— George Violette, Sarasota, Fla.

A Star in the Night

A star shone bright up in the sky

for all the world to see

its dazzling light break thru the night

and o’er the desert sands

then wend its way to Bethlehem

and there, pause to pray,

above a stable and a manger

where the Baby lay

as Mary, Virgin Mother,

and Joseph, of David’s line,

gazed, with praise and thanks,

at the Child Divine.

Donkeys brayed and lambs lay quiet

in the silent night,

and ‘lo, shepherds came from fields nearby

as angels’ hymns filled the sky

soon to be followed by men of learning

at the place so hallowed,

and there gifts bring, to honor

a Priest, a Prophet and a King . . .

for in the manger before them

the Babe — in Heaven’s glory —

the Son of Man, the Son of God,

lay and blessed the Universe

with God’s Christmas Story.

— D.M. Norman, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

The Eve of the Virgin Birth

As the virgin waits in the stable with the ox and the ass,

The carpenter keeps her warm in his arms.

The stars twinkle in the still of the cold, wintry night.

The hay glimmers with a thin layer of ice.

The night is still, each moment is another heartbeat of mother and son.

The virgin lies in her spouse’s arms, breathing slowly,

Meditating on the peacefulness of the night.

Peace reigns in the heart of the Mother of Fair Love.

As the moment of Incarnate Love approaches, the night fades into the

Dawning of a new creation.

— Mary Jane Nichols, Goffstown, N.H.

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In the quiet stillness of the night

A child is born an awesome light

Mary’s yes and Joseph’s faith

The world’s waiting was replaced

Shepherds knelt in silent awe

While flocks grazed nearby on straw

Kings bowed low after following a star

Bearing gifts from lands afar

Did songs of angels surround them all

Were words spoken in the quiet stall

The rich and poor came to see

Pure adoration given innocently

A moment to ponder

In this season of wonder
Search for that quiet
Take time to slumber

Dream of a world

Where all life is cherished

Try to imagine

Evil has perished

Come back to that time

Where all hearts are one

You may search for a king

But you’ll be finding God’s son

— Maureen Theresa Krepol, Media, Pa.

Emmanuel, God With Us

Endless darkness, chaos, and void;

stilled by the word, “Let there be light.”

Man is formed from the clay of the earth;

woman from his side to be his delight.

Menace in the garden, a choice leads to death;

fallen parents have naught but a promise, a seed.

Across time’s expanse, God’s people cry out;

they strive, they stumble, they fall, and they plead.

No sin mars the Virgin, “Fiat” tells her choice;

the Promise, the Seed, cries in Bethlehem’s night.

Unto to us is born Love, the Word becomes clay;

death’s darkness and fear give way to the Light.

Ending the chaos, the Child fills our void;

the menace is stilled, glad angels bear witness.

Light eternal illumines the world;

Emmanuel comes – our God is with us.

— Peggy Kindiger, El Reno, Okla.

The Christmas Angel

The Christmas angel smiles down from the treetop

Holding her bright candle

throwing sparks from her golden wings

Shining light on the fragrant branches below

The children’s ornaments nestle in the soft boughs

The twining lights flicker

creating a glowing forest above the humble stable

Where our blessed Lord lays

Our own private Christmas

A family’s profession of faith and hope

shining like a bright little star

That is the heart of God’s love.

— Kathleen Lane, Deadwood, S.D.

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Tags:Christmas, memories, poetry

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