Monday, December 22, 2014

Unsilent Night


Whores and lepers. Sheep shit and fish guts. The real gospel is gritty. The real Jesus is dirty, naked, and unashamed of his great, humiliating sacrifice for those willing to accept such an inglorious, less than glossy delivery, which was not heralded on expensive card stock, which may not have occurred on December 25th. But it was the first Noel.

star twinkling
angels singing
staffs trembling
after 400 years of silent waiting
christmastime


© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

trying my hand at tanka prose for carpe diem: christmastime

19 comments:

PirateGunn said...

THAT was superb, raw, and real.

Justin Lamb said...

I love this. The description of Jesus' life as well as the tanka. Nice work, Jennifer.

Wendy Bourke said...

Lovely and true - the title perfect.

Grace said...

I like the real and gritty response ~ You painted him real and close to our challenges ~ Merry Christmas to you and yours Jennifer ~

kaykuala said...

This is tough and heavy Jennifer! Very much Unsilent night! Merry Christmas to you!

Hank

Lolly said...

so nice to see you and your lovely poetry. :)

Anonymous said...

Very gritty indeed! But truthful.

Unknown said...

I love the honest look at Jesus - He came to squalor from a palace - amazing!
Merry Christmas

Tank said...

Lots to love about this piece, from the very cool title to the gripping prose and the clean tanka combination. Nice work!

grapeling said...

sharply creased, Jen ~

Fireblossom said...

A much needed reminder of reality vs. pretty packaging! Merry Christmas just the same, girl!

Fireblossom said...

ps--do you have a book yet? If not, why not???? I can count on the fingers of one hand the cyber poets who are as talented as you are.

Ella said...

Wow, you paint grit really well~ I agree with FB you need to write a book~
Merry Christmas, Jennifer!
I hope your season is filled with love and laughter~

Brian Miller said...

it is gritty...we want to make it into something beautiful...and it is...but it is not something so much different from our world..and in that there should be hope and comfort....

hope you and the fam have a great christmas....smiles.

Jody Lee Collins said...

'after 400 years of silent waiting, christmastime.'

Indeed. Merry Christmas, Jennifer!

Magyar said...

__Have a grand New Year and a very Merry Christmas, Jenn!
Always, Doug..

janetld said...

Thank you for the reminders, Jennifer!
Have a great Christmas.

Unknown said...

Reality inside the myths ... great go, bravo Jennifer!

Lisa A. Williams said...

Raw and truthful, great work!