The light shines ... Christmas Poem 2021

I have a long tradition of writing a Christmas poem each year. The earliest ones pre-date this blog by some years. I thought this year might be the one to break the tradition as I was feeling very uninspired.

But then, earlier this week, I watched the sunrise. And, (unlike today, when there is just a gradually fading from murky black to murky grey with the promise of not really getting light all day) it was stunningly beautiful.

In some ways this still breaks with tradition because for some reason, unlike most of my other poetry, the Christmas ones usually rhyme and this one doesn't, but there is, none-the-less, somewhat unexpectedly, a Christmas poem for 2021.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” 

Isaiah 60:2

Thick darkness covers the earth

Midnight black

Emptied 

Even of stars

With a sense of anticipation

We wait

Until from somewhere unseen

Beyond the horizon

Deep purple stains the sky

Bringing peace

Until with a subtle shift

Darkness begins to fade

As pink spills in wispy streaks

Heralding love

Until as the sun inches higher

Red bleeds through the clouds

And oranges blaze bright

Promising joy

Until thus the sun, fully risen,

Scatters its light

And dyes the sky a vivid blue

Offering hope

And a new day dawns.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” 

John 1: 5

Merry Christmas Everyone!