Two St. Mark's Advent Poems

St. Mark's is blessed by God with poets - people who can see and express reality and truth in a language that transcends the literal. (The literal is rarely true.) Soon there will be an 80th anniversary collection of poetry by St. Markers - celebration of God's Word spoken in our individual lives and in the life of this faith community. For now, a foretaste of that banquet: two Advent poems.

LET US PREPARE

Snow is expected
the birds know
there they go
off to the left
in formation
dip low
bank right
circle
separate
re-group
soar

Advent approaches
we must prepare
where are the candles
the wreath, the crib
what are the prayers
the hymns, the hopes
who will take the babe to his bed
why must we wait
to walk in the light
Advent approaches
let us prepare

– Jeanette Adams
November 29, 2002

ADVENT 2000

The sky was a blackboard
nothing written there for me
It was cold and dark
when the demons struck
a clanking noise from the belly of my car

I should have been scared
would have been too
but I looked at the sky, and saw
a sudden spillage of stars

Then a man/angel
stopped to help me
Jesus was in his eyes

The leaves were glistening
and I knew
the Birth of the Christ Child
was near

– Pamela Malone