A Christmas Poem...of sorts

In about an hour I'll be heading up to church.  We have services at 4, 7, 9, and 11 (and yes, we will have a service on Christmas morning as well.)  It makes for a long day today, but each service is a little bit different and it's all a lot of fun.

Anyway, here is the poem.  The image is a little, uh, non-traditional.  But I think that just makes it all the more effective.

The Bat  by Jane Kenyon

I was reading about rationalism

the kind of thing we do up north

in early winter, where the sun

leaves work for the day at 4:15

Maybe the world is intelligible

to the rational mind;

and maybe we light the lamps at dusk

for nothing…

Then I heard wings overhead.

The cats and I chased the bat

in circles—living room, kitchen

pantry, kitchen, living room…

At every turn it evaded us

like the identity of the third person

in the Trinity:  the one

who spoke through the prophets,

the one who astounded Mary

by suddenly coming near.

Comments

[jlb]

Hm, very non-traditional! A whole new take on "My heart in hiding/Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!" (The Windhover, Gerard Manley Hopkins, http://www.bartleby.com/122/12.html)
Merry Christmas!
>^..^<

[Sarah]

Wanted to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year...I wish for you love, peace, and joy.

[Rob]

Thanks, Jan, for the great poems of your own composition and for the recommendation of others to follow up on.

And a blessed Hanukkah to you, Sarah. Thanks for the gracious greeting!