So we've reached the end of another week of rather dark poems! It has been interesting to ponder the responses of those who have read them - some have enjoyed revisting poems they last read many moons ago, others have fund the 'darkness' oppressive. I suppose in some ways, it reflects our expectations of Advent, and the way that it has shifted from its dark focus on 'the four last things' (death, judgement, heaven and hell) or on the Second Coming (with equal measure of despair and destruction) to a saccharine build-up to Christmas festivities. The idea that our forebears would have fasted and seen this as a penitential season is unknown to many, to most; it is scary how many churches either ignore the great Advent themes (and they are many and varied) or start singing Christmas carols on December 1st.
Anyway, yesterday was the bright Gaudete Sunday, I wore my pink suit (pink! me! yes!) and we had a wonderful evening carol service with a children's choir to augment and counterpoint our adult voices. It is still dark, but the light is growing... soon it will be Christmas!
Here's one of the poems we used last night which seems to capture some of this waiting and hoping and darkness and light...
Jesus is Coming
by Lucy Berry
Jesus is coming. But not yet.
First there must be water, blood and milk.
Jesus is coming. But not yet.
First there must be blessings, shame and outrage.
Jesus is coming. But not yet.
First there must be journeys, vists, exiles.
Jesus is coming. But not yet.
First there must be terror, torture and death.
Ah, Lord, hurry to be born.
Ah, Lod, hurry from womb and tomb to save us.