CHRISTMAS CRÈCHE

Poem for Today - December 23, 2014

GETTING INTO THE STABLE

Trying to get

the feel

of the first

Christmas
I finger

the crèche

figures

I attempt

to put myself

alongside

a shepherd

and his lamb

or by the cow

whose manger

has been commandeered

as a temporary

cradle

I would never

have consented

to such

inconvenience

In so

unimpressive

a setting

with such poor

accommodations

I wonder

why Mary

is satisfied

to let God

take over

I wonder

why Joseph

accepts

the unacceptable

with such good grace.

© Thomas John Carlisle