2019 Christmas Poem

I am a little late, but no matter 

Down the lane, past the snow
brushed street, through the hush
of thicket, over the icy brook and
up; there is a sparking light in
the night sky glad to be nestled
Northmost against the heavens.

The light waves like a fire’s dance,
glinting a multi-facet in the seeker’s
eyes; beautiful in its radiance.

This star reminds us most of a
Bethlehem’s birth, carrying a
Messenger into the world with a
letter in his pocket of love and
affection.

I have, at times, forgotten the tone
of the letter, but will do my best
to remember it this season.

Let’s help the lost find their
way again. Let’s see our homes
restored. Let’s be a symbol of grace
incarnate, filled with light and love.
Please, let us be kind to every,
single, living thing.

Maybe you are like me and get lost
in the unanswerable questions. There
is a line I often repeat when I have
come to a breaking point, ‘If Jesus is
for the poor, then I am for Jesus.’

Merry Christmas to you.

-TS

Christmas Queen

My perspective is real wide now,
but my vision is like way narrow.
The word “Love” sounds like
when you shout into a bottomless well.
Well, maybe there’s a bottom,
but how would we know, ya know?

We keep seeing you everywhere.

I saw you a whole lot today in the
back of the TJ Maxx on Madison.
There were those peppermint-bark tins
that you used to get, I was gunna get Miss
a picture frame, but I couldn’t wait in the line.

You waited in every line for us.

I don’t know how ya did it.
You said every Christmas would be small,
but that was always a lie.

I don’t think you meant to lie.
I think you genuinely thought
you couldn’t pull it off some years,
but oh, man you did.

I don’t know what I’ll miss more,
your Christmas village magic –
or the thought of you waiting in all
those lines; a big smile on your face
when you began to realize … that year
was gunna be bigger than the last … again.

The words are from a poem I wrote last year for Christmas. Always cool to see the marriage of my words and design.

To keep the still in frames

 

I take more pictures in winter, to keep the still in frames
I sometimes glimpse a bit of spring, through melted snow and flames

The chilly sent of icy rain, hangs throughout the town
The frosty breath of frozen lungs, while snow is falling down

I see a river flow beneath, coursing cold and runneth green
I see a North-bound, rusted train, barreling down with steam

The glow of warmth, bright with light, there’s one I call my home
I pray for the broken, ragged few, who spend this night alone

Where would I be, without this place, into a man been made
I often doubt and cry aloud, hoping again that you’d save

It’s Christmas time in Cincy-town, soon a city colored white
I will rest and spend good time, with my family here tonight

Bless us, Lord! Keep us safe! We fall down on our knees
We pray for much and forget to thank, but now we’re begging please

We are your kids, we hide as such, breaking all the joy you built
We placed on him all the shame, but still carry around our guilt

Take it all! And throw it out! I’ve been hanging on too long
Hope you’ll accept these feeble words, that now come out in song

I am one man and a broken one, you’ve asked to humbly serve
I will fail and fail again, because I haven’t got the nerve

The season is right and ripe with joy, only good comes from above
I pray for heaven coming down, I pray for your unfailing love

The King Has Come!

An angel appeared, swift in the night
A warrior tall and full of light
Said don’t be scared! For God will come
You’re son, Mary, He’s the one!

The family traveled to Joseph’s land
Bethlehem town in God’s own hand
A little stable which held the least
So they nestled with the friendly beasts

Newborn babe in manger slept
With Mom and Dad safe they kept
God came down to bring us near
Great joy to all the people here

All the while a star shone bright
And Shepherds all beheld the light
Angels sang behind lowly hills
He’s come! He’s come! You must be still!

The shepherd’s ran to see the One
And gasped when they saw Heaven’s son
Wise men traveled on camels far
All because that lovely star

A rescuer! They whisper soft
Child on high from Heaven’s loft
A king they say he’ll grow to be
One side of the Holy three

A palace? No a homeless man
Poor of spirit though not of plan
The blind will see, the lame will leap!
To rule with service, our hearts to keep

Sad will perish, hate will cease
All the world will know is peace
What fear of death we oft live by
But he says this! Death too will die!

Born to rags though really king
Heaven fell soft and earth did sing
His name decrees he’s God with us
A Prince of Peace, his sword is just

God came down as little child
Be careful though, this lion’s wild
The world will know his boastful fame
And all will bow at Jesus’ Name!

The world will know his boastful fame
And all will bow at Jesus’ Name!

You and me, will bow at Jesus’ Name!

50 Questions to ask God this Holiday Season

1. Hows come we can’t see you?
2. How many bulbs have broken when idiots put up Christmas lights?
3. Why don’t people use their fucking turn signal?
4. Why, when I forget to use my turn signal, do people get so mad?
5. If I count to 100, how many religions can you name?
6. If your love for us was a color, what would it be?
7. Rainbows, how do you feel about those?
8. What do you want from me?
9. So, are you sure true love only comes once? I’m asking for a friend.
10. I’ve got two books on systematic theology, do I need those?
11. I think anteaters are funny, do you?
12. Do you sleep-in a lot?
13. How big is your bed?
14. When you get mad, does your face get super red like ours?
15. Who’s your least favorite and you can’t say Hitler?
16. Why do I have an appendix but not wings?
17. What’s your spirit animal?
18. Is it an anteater?
19. If you were going to write me a letter, how many pages would you need?
20. If I live for like 70 years, how long is forever?
21. Yankees or Red Sox?
22. Bourbon or vodka?
23. I cheated on my eighth grade engineering test, is that bad?
24. Would you ever secede from the union?
25. What’s your favorite boys name, and you can’t say Emmanuel?
26. Do you ever think your muscles should be bigger?
27. I’m not great at growing a mustache, can you fix that before I wake up tomorrow?
28. Can you build something you can’t move? (My college professor keeps asking)
29. I didn’t make anyone’s christmas card list again this year, does that count as sadness?
30. I turned all my book reports in on time in third grade, were you proud of me?
31. What do you want for Christmas this year, and you can’t say cash again?
32. Two trains are traveling toward each other. One leaves from Pittsburgh and travels consistently at 85 mph and alternates tracks every 10 minutes. The other is actually a plane. Math…am I right?
33. Do you believe in miracles?
34. How many government people are watching me right now?
35. Where do you live currently?
36. Is it better than the last place?
37. Whaddya think, you and me remake Cars 2, but this time we get it right?
38. I’m up shit creek, do you have a paddle?
39. Do you like Blues Brothers as much as I do?
40. If I’m a crooked stick, are you a straight line or are you more like a circle?
41. If you quit your job and did stand up for a year, what would your special be called?
42. Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel?
43. Are you left handed?
44. The earth is bipolar … so … do you take your medication?
45. Did you ever get married?
46. My wife’s on the other side of the world isn’t she?
47. When I prayed real hard that the Pittsburgh Penguins would beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the ’97 playoffs, were you asleep in your big bed or something?
48.Can you explain the meaning of life using only bendy straws?
49. There’s a burning ball of fire in outer space that affects the seasons and pretty much everything I’ve ever thought about. Are you random or naw?
50. Dad?