The Birds
An important part of Christmas for me since I've become a blogger is to publish my friend Frank's poem that he shared with me many years ago. Frank is gone now, but his spirit lives on. I've shared the poem almost every year with my readers, and -- God willing -- I will do it again next year, and the next and the next.
THE BIRDS
IT WASN'T THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE CHRISTMAS
HE ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY FUN
ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS AND SUDDEN GOOD WILL
AND THE CHILDREN'S HAPPY SUSPENSE
BUT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS
IN THE INCARNATION I MEAN
GOD LIVING A MAN-LIFE LIKE HIS? WHAT FOR?
IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM
HE SAT BY THE FIRE
WARM IN HIS HOME
ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALONE
THE FAMILY GONE OFF TO MIDNIGHT MASS
HE HEARD A THUMP AT THE WINDOW
AND THEN ANOTHER
SOME MISCHIEF BOY OUT FOR FUN HE THOUGHT
HE WENT TO THE WINDOW TO CHASE HIM WITH A GLANCE
BUT FOUND NO BOY
BUT A SPARROW FLOCK
LURED BY THE LIGHT AND SIGHT OF WARMTH
HAD TRIED TO COME THROUGH HIS WINDOW
THEY HUDDLED NOW IN THE SNOW
WITH NO PLACE TO GO
AND HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM
HE PUT ON HIS BOOTS AND JACKET AND SCARF
AND OUT HE WENT TO OPEN THE GARAGE
TO GIVE THEM SHELTER
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
SO HE TURNED ON THE LIGHT
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
HE WENT AND GOT BREAD
AND THREW IT MANNA LIKE UPON THE SNOW
A PATH TO FOLLOW
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
HE TRIED TO HERD THEM IN
SHOUTING AND WAVING HIS ARMS
BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME
I'M SCARING THEM HE THOUGHT
I'M SO BIG COMPARED TO THEM
AND DIFFERENT
IF BUT FOR A MOMENT I COULD BE A SPARROW
I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH THE DOOR
I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH.....THE DOOR
FRANK A. VOLLMER
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