»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #17
»
The Christmas Eve They Took Jesus Away
| Open Poetry #17 |
|
The Christmas Eve They Took Jesus Away |
|
|
Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
|
The Christmas Eve They Took Jesus Away The trade of a carpenter, artisan’s hand Fashioned a manger he wanted to stand In a place in the village where it could be seen On a hill overlooking the town, San Joaquin He was old and quite frail, but he carved out of wood The beautiful manger scene that would be stood In a schoolyard on a hillside overlooking the town And some folks went along to help place it around Each figure was grand, with a hand painted face Pure portraits of their adoration and grace The figure of Jesus, in bed of sweet hay Lay sleeping in peace til they took Him away The crèche stood for days and town was in awe Of the beautiful manger in view of them all Up on the hillside by day it was clear And at night with his lights, he would make it appear Then a townsperson claimed that it had to come down No signs of religion on public school ground A Nativity scene’s not appropriate today You will have to dismantle and take it away A few went to help him, but up on the hill The winds brought in signs of the first winter chill Blustery, icy, and wind driven hail Too hard for an old man, so aged and pale But he ordered the others to go on back home And he lifted the Christ Child with strength of his own He wrapped it in blankets and carefully laid The figure of Christ he was taking away He knelt down beside the wood manger and prayed The Kings and the shepherd boys would have to stay For the storm had grown wicked, and of the display The best he could do was take Jesus away Through tears he stepped off of the public school ground And descended to the square in the middle of town Where the town folk assembled to gaze at a star And the beautiful Crèche on the hillside afar The skies had cleared up and star showered beams On a now empty manger’s Nativity scene A miracle happening there in the skies And the artist look upward with faith in his eyes The people remarked to the old man that night That the laws made in heaven were their only light They told him to take the sweet baby and place Him back into the manger , in his holy space But the figure was gone and no one could conceive Of what happened to Jesus on that Christmas Eve He was there in my wagon, in just such a way Now somebody’s taken my Jesus away Look up on the hillside! Another had gone The one who complained was now placing Him on The manger of wood that was destined to stay Christmas Eve when they’d taken sweet Jesus away The star shines in glory upon a pure face A hand wittled figure with hand painted grace Blessed is artisan, blessed his skill And the one who placed Jesus back up on the hill Elizabeth Santos |
||
| © Copyright 2001 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Startime Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918Canada |
Oh my gosh...I can't stop the tears.....this is sooooo.....I am speechless. I love it, dear one.....it is pure beauty and inspired by the true spirit of this season. Oh how incredibly wonderful is this poem.......all must read it...how I hope they too can feel the spirit that flows from your pen with this masterpiec. **big hugs** Have a wonderful Christmas...  Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams. |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
AMEN |
||
Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (tears fall down my cheeks) God Bless You, sweet Elizabeth, this beautiful poem had tears flooding down my face to feel the love and smile of Him shining in the stars as the manger was crafted on that hill! (wipes tears) Your heart shines with His love and grace, this is sooooooooo beautiful, this is a true timeless classic! (big hugggsssss) God Bless You, we all love you so very much, sweet friend, we all wish you the happiest holidays! (kiss on cheek) Sooooooo touching! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Elizabeth, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
||
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
 AMEN!Some things just need to be said, and some people know how to say them with such respect and grace, I am humbled by this piece and thank you my friend. ~*~ May the spirit of this season live in your heart all year through ~*~ |
||
|
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Very touching Elizabeth...James |
||
|
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Oh darn, I had to bump this - sue me  it is too good to slip away at this time of year, we need to read wonderful words such as these.  ~*~ May the spirit of this season live in your heart all year through ~*~ |
||
|
rebekah33 Member
since 2001-12-13
Posts 140MD/NJ |
What a beautiful poem! (And I'm very glad the old man didn't die at the end like i was afraid he would). *Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels voices Oh night..divine, oh night when Christ was born*  -R. "So stop and love and dance and live and laugh until you cry" Edwin McCain |
||
|
John Yaws Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860Texas |
Elizabeth, you are worthy of the name. a lovely poem, and a lovely rendition of the old, old story. |
||
|
timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough |
*****ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL***** I have sent this one to friends all around....... a definite must read!!! God Bless You sweet one....... ~TimothysAngel *Whatever souls are made of...his and mine are of the same* ~Emily Bronte' |
||
|
Auguste
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953By the sea |
Liz, I'm so glad I didn't miss this wonderful piece of writing. Such an excellent story and how unfortunate that so much of society can no longer find a place for Jesus. Without Him there is no Christmas. Without Him there is no hope. May God richly bless you, my friend. Thank you for this. Michael Michael Auguste~ |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
