Christmas Awakening
by Alan HarrisTo a Guest Reading by Paul Meier
From the mantel, stockings
packed with Christmas
tinyness and sweets
dimly hang at 3 a.m.
Cold wind outside
shakes and snaps the house.
The dog is asleep on the couch.
This artificial tree, lights off, points
second-floorward with wrapped
bounty beautifully beneath it,
testimony that goods are good
and glitter is better.
The dog sighs and turns over.
From underneath,
the furnace exhales warmly
upon tree ornaments
livingly aquiver.
All else is motionless,
and less,
except for the dog
now snoring on the couch.
What if this—
right here, this instant—
is Christmas?
What if this quiet room
is flooded with the future?
What if an unseen star
is shining here,
lighting the way
to a new beginning?
What room, I wonder,
is this? Do we have here
a manger?
The dog sleeps deeply.
The room is ready.
One waits.
Come Home to Christmas
Christmas Letter, 1981
A Christmas Light
Santa's Interior Monologue
Winter Solstice
Yuletide's Deepest Bell
Every Christmas
Shopping Cheap
Listening to Christmas
Within Our Keep
Here at the Close of Christmas Day
Wounded Holidays
Christmas Haiku
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas
The Scrooge Before Christmas
Christmas Reflections Home PageComments and queries:
Home Page - An Everywhere Oasis
Site Map
The current page is located at http://www.alharris.com/holidays/xmasawak.htm
by Alan Harris. All rights reserved.