soft snow encloses
the world
in the silence
of new year's regrets

The First Creche

The fire light

casts its soft glow

on Mary's face

as she prepares
for the birth of her son.

The animals wait too
in quiet anticipation
for the new baby
that will soon be sharing
their manger.

Scholars watch the stars.

Shepherds sleep in the cold.

In another place
and another time,
brought together by worship
and sacrament,
a poor man named Francis
gets on his knees
and worships the Savior.

Skeleton trees stretch their gnarled branches

to the cold grey sky,

reaching their arthritic fingers

past the falling snow.

Our joints ache.

winter resurrection
a friend's face
on Google chrome

Pale and cold,

I dream of the tropics

and stare at the ceiling--

winter blood test. 

Pale and cold,
I warm my hands
on the red mug--
winter blood test.

pale and cold
dreams of tropical islands
December
blood test 

Spiritual Flu

Just when the ride becomes easy,
just when I become complacent
God has me on my mental knees
begging Jesus and the saints
for mercy and prayers.

As my world spins and twists
out of control,
I  grasp in blind panic
for something solid--
something to stop the world
from whirling
and me
from vomiting up
my center of gravity.