Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Carol Night


Carol Night.
Candles glow amidst the tumult;
everywhere there is noise and movement
wonderful noise, wonderful movement.
People joining voices
sharing food and blankets
And the Children, the children
they are just children?
They cry and scream,
 laugh and tumble.
They are not angels are they?
One girl child, with glowing, stubby candle,
sits amidst the din;
stunned or dazzled,
amazed or distracted?
She sits
an image of stillness
with a stare at times
almost vacant;
or perhaps focussed
on the infinite?
She moves at last
to stand before her mother
and exclaims with pure awe,
“ Mummy, they’re just like stars!”
then moves back
to her place of watching.
Her mother;
sensing more than most
the ‘other’ in her daughter’s words
weeps tears of joy and wonder
at the beauty in the child.

Gordon Bannon

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