December 7

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

*** 

Lully, lullay, lullaby;
Helpless infant in the manger,
She who bore you sitting by
Watching, all alert, for danger --
In your sleeping, silence keeping,
Do you hear the mothers weeping
As their babes no longer cry?
Lully, lullay, lullaby.

Child who, in the void of black,
Flung the new stars you ignited
Out to leave Space in their track --
Why, too, leave Creation blighted?
Planets spinning, worlds beginning --
Could you not predict our sinning
Or prevent it? Did you try?
Lully, lullay, lullaby.

All the struggle, strife, competing
Plant and predator and prey --
Was it but the thoughtless, fleeting
Fancy of a child at play?
Eagles flying, seedlings vying --
What made you invent, then, dying?
Is your mercy all a lie?
Lully, lullay, lullaby.

When we left the verdant, vanished
Shelter of the ancient trees,
Did we choose (or were we banished?)
Violence over peaceful ease?
New lands filling, lifeblood spilling --
Are we driven, then, to killing
By some force we can't deny?
Lully, lullay, lullaby?

Marvel, scientists and sages!
Evolution's ancient curse
Echoed down through countless ages
Blood and brain both to coerce
Now is broken, by this token,
Word of Love into flesh spoken;
God with us to live, and die --
Lully, lullay, lullaby.

Gather round and see the Other
Come in answer to our need;
Stranger, alien, yet brother;
Free from hate, unmoved by greed;
Friend and rival for survival
Made as one by your arrival,
Hark! The age of peace draws nigh:
Lully, lullay, lullaby.

Starlight, guard this ancient child,
Snowflake gently round him falling;
Winter wind, your touch make mild,
Chickadee and owl calling.
In his dreaming, softly streaming,
Nighttime's green aurora gleaming
Fill the cold December sky;
Lully, lullay, lullaby.