Bah Humbug

BAH HUMBUG


I MUST BE HAVING AN OLD TESTAMENT MOMENT
I WAS GOING TO SAY
I DON’T WANT YOUR FESTIVE CHOIRS
OR TRIUMPHANT BRASS
OR ANY OTHER SIGNS OF CELEBRATION

I CAME TO BRING PEACE
THERE IS NO PEACE
TO BRING LOVE
IT’S IN SHORT SUPPLY
TO BRING JUSTICE
IT’S FOR SALE
TO REMOVE POVERTY
WE CAN’T AFFORD IT

EVEN MY CRIB
IN A MANGER
IS BETTER THAN MANY

MY MOTHER’S BREAST FLOWS
OTHER MOTHER’S BREAST ARE DRY

HEROD’S MEN ARE BUSY SLAYING BABIES

WOULD THAT THE WORLD
WOULD THROW UP
IN AN ACT OF REVULSION
ALL THE EVIL AND BILE
ALL THE DEEP ENTRENCHED HATRED
ALL THE ME FIRST ATTITUDE
ALL THAT CHAINS THEM
TO OLD HABITS

DO THEY NEED A SILENT NIGHT
OR ACTIVITY
TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE WORKING

THAT THEY REMAIN CONSCIOUS
OF THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE
THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE

MOST OLD TESTAMENT HARANGUES
END HAPPILY
WITH A PROMISE OF A NEW JERUSALEM

SO I’M ENOUGH OF A BIRTHDAY BOY
TO HOPE THAT THE CHOIR
AND THE BRASS
SOUND WELL

FRANK A VOLLMER