Sunset on Christmas Eve

Light's nearly gone

bare trees flare gold

sun descends,

day turns cold.

Old world ends

in a brilliant flash

but from the east

hope springs at last

fresh from a child

drawing first breath,

as the tawdry cycle

of night and day,

the hopelessness

of fear and hate

new love overwhelms

as new day begins

with first holy breath

of this God-infant.

(24 December 2011)