Last Eve of Empty Tongues

“So this is Christmas and what have you done?” John Lennon


A starless night, an empty moon,
another 365 days around the sun,
and love is a tea light flame
trying to burn a hole in heaven.

Silent night sings from lips
stamped with a tradition that
pantomimes peace for pageantry
while a child’s cry in Aleppo goes unheard.

In a season of a manger, a savior,
the land of plenty chooses
a Christmas tree battle over greetings
instead of simply treasuring words of good will.

As the world burns on the last eve
of empty tongues, tomorrow prepares
to raise its voice of peace to prepare
hands and hearts to silence war.

©Susie Clevenger 2016


  









Comments

brudberg said…
I so hope that we can rise to peace from the fire... but how does it ever help a child of ash?
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Susie, your pen is like a laser, burning truth. Powerful, "love is a tea light trying to burn a hole in heaven. I dread turning on the news tomorrow, to be honest.
Anonymous said…
I believe too.
Kerry O'Connor said…
It is sad that battlegrounds are self-perpetuating, no matter how many crave peace war goes on one year to the next, no end in sight.
Marian said…
To silence or eliminate war? I don't know why those seem like two different concepts to me. A tea light... so small, such a tiny flame...
Margaret said…
...Allepo How can this be happening in our day and age? How can we sing about Peace? - without tears streaming our cheeks? So very disturbing.
Angie said…
Susie, the children of Aleppo are not forgotten. Thanks for putting them in your thoughts and prayers. I will too
grapeling said…
prayers are not enough. they never have been. but witnessing? always. ~
hedgewitch said…
It's not easy to end on a note of hope these days, but you make it sincere and real here. A beautiful sad sweep of a poem, Susie.