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Rod &
Kubby. Photo by Bob Gentry, ©2002 by Stanyan Entertainment Group.
A Thought for Today
Though the gift be small and simple if the wish is wide just the simple gift of giving makes you warm inside.
-from "Simple Gifts."
FROM
the¨BOOKS
Hard to believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away, but that's what the calendar says. Here are a few selections for the season.
INVITATION
I've seen so many Merry Xmas signs
with Christ squeezed out by laziness
or the printer's economic need.
The outrage that it once produced
has almost found its way into the attic
with nineteen-sixty's broken toys.
(Had I not the faces of small children
to mirror Christ for me all year long
I might believe God dead, or sleeping anyway.
Though I doubt there lives a Lucifer
who could make September leaves to fall
or set the tails of dogs to wagging.)
God is living in the mountains,
a recluse from some people's hearts.
but he'd drop by smiling in the chilly night
and celebrate his first son's birthday
if we cared enough to keep the porch light on.
-from "The Carols of Christmas,"1971. First published in Woman's Day, 1969
THREE DECEMBER POEMS
1. A Letter
Dear Santa Clause:
This year I'd like the best
to see my fellow man
give his fists and guns
and tongue a rest.
2. Conscience
The world holds dangers
darker than the dentist's chair
love is still the eye
of anything worthwhile
or worth having
and so we keep that one eye open.
And knowing that it goes by
multitudes of attitudes and names
it's wise to learn and not forget
the favorite name for love is conscience.
Conscience being the first thing
Christ conceived for us
must mean love is Christmas
by another name.
3. R. S. V. P. / 1969
Did you forget
that once before
we stood our Christmas
distance
and Christmas close,
would be too much
for me to bear again.
#1 from "The 1972 Rod McKuen Calendar." #'s 2 & 3 from "The Carols of Christmas," 1971
As this week winds down it's once again time to think about tomorrows' weekly feature Pass it Along. Join me tomorrow then, for "The Stuff" and meanwhile sleep warm.
RM 12/12/02 2:04 AM PST
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