Miscellany

Spirit of Christmas

Dressed in a suit
of berry-red
the Down's Syndrome boy
(but his friends call him Daniel)
rehearses with the other children
who are bored with the Christmas show.

He doesn't know
when voices go faint or reedy
or that concord
is not unanimous.

He
is seized and taken
with the occasion,
beams out his gladness at us.
He winks and hugs his body,
hugs life close
with all its imperfections.
"My pleasures are here for sharing!"

Perhaps when he was born
there were no gifts;
perhaps a lamentation.
Love laboured long
to achieve
this radiant integration.

The Christmas tree
for all its tinsel glamour
cannot compete
with his exuberance.
May the Gift
endure forever!

In his brown eyes
I see a bright star shine.

Lead, kindly light
and save us from fixating
on a flaw.
Daniel has knocked, and enters
a closed door.

posted by Jenny Argante @ 1:50 AM