Light

December 2008

There’s no baby in my stable,

No shepherds on my lawn

But a tree of lights gleams in my home,

And my yule log flickers on.

I don’t light the menorah

I won’t be at midnight mass

But I know one thing this winter’s eve;

That darkness cannot last.

Candles for the King’s birthday,

And prayers for Ramadan

Quema del Diablo

And Dong Ji red from the pan

Bon nen kai to lose your woes,

Kawanzaa’s seven lights,

They all boil down to say

You’re not alone this winter’s night.

I wish you light whenever you need it

And a flame within your soul

To warm your heart in wintertime

When everything feels cold

I wish you love with never the asking,

Given freely from the heart

And measured not in gifts, but in

The glow that eases the dark.

Amid the Christmas carols

And the shopping, and the rush

The reason for the season

Speaks in every snowfall hush;

That things must have their turning

Both the blooming and the freeze

But to last the night, we all need light

To bring hope for winter’s ease.

So I hope my flame has kindled

Something good within your life

I hope this song I’ve written

Might ease just a bit of strife

But even if my hopes can’t reach

Beyond the season’s noise,

You’ll still require light

To help unwrap all of your toys

So take this light whenever you need it,

At your table, or your tree,

Your candles, or your hearthfires,

I offer it for free.

And it’s all right to let it pass by you

But if you add your own light too,

This circle is made whole

When I take fire back from you.