The Risk Of Birth

The longest day (down south) and the shortest day (up north) has come.  Alleluia!  Solstice Celebrations please!

My sister Sally has two poems on her Christmas card.  Here is the first:

THE RISK OF BIRTH 

This is no time for a child to be born

With the earth betrayed by war and hate

And a nova lighting the sky to warn

That time runs out and the sun burns late.

That was no time for a child to be born,

In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;

Honour and truth were trampled by scorn -

Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?

The inn is full on the planet earth,

And by greed and pride the sky is torn -

Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

Madeline L'Engle