Friday, December 5, 2008

December 5

Christmas Dream
by Eugene Peterson

“...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.”

Amiably at home with virtue and evil -
The righteousness of Joseph and Herod’s
Wickedness – I’m ever and always a stranger to grace.
I need this annual angel visitation.

- this sudden drive by dream into reality -
to know the virgin conceives and God is with us.
The dream powers its way through winter weather
and gives me vision to see the Jesus gift.

Light from the dream lasts a year. Through
Equinox and solstice I am given twelve months

Of daylight by which to build the crèche where my
Redeemer lives. The fetus of praise grows

deep in my spirit. As autumn wanes I count
the days until I bear the dream again.

6 comments:

Lance said...

All of the poems are so beautiful and thought provoking.

I write a bit myself, but my poetry reflects my art, putting it more in touch with Dr. Seuss LOL.

android said...

Thanks for your blog. I have been searching for Advent poems to read as part of a music recital, and this has really helped. Keep up the good work!

Juca said...

This one is so ... hallucinogenic, like a dream. And extreme.

Charlie Lowell said...

Yeah, a friend just emailed me this one. I didn't know Eugene Peterson wrote poetry, but we all know how good he is with words.

Juca said...

I wish I could read some of his books...

David K Wheeler said...

Thanks for sharing this. Advent makes for some spectacular poems.