Another Yuletide at the door:
The wreath left on it since before
The Christmas of two-oh-fifteen—
A goodly while ago, I mean—
Is up to date now once again.
And I can yet remember when
I hung it, in a better time
Well antecedent to this rhyme.
So come on in! The light is lit,
The dark still can't encompass it;
A vast supply of grateful gladness,
Above the current badness/madness,
Prompts us to spread good will promiscuous
And warmest greetings all Christmas-cuous!
. . .
Christmas has one thing about it:
Despite the very worst who tout it,
They can't destroy it. Though they try,
It does outlast them by and by.
Angels flying ever higher,
Singing in the heav'nly choir
"Joy to the World" and "First Noël,"
Can the season's secrets tell:
Love one another, peace is near;
All people will be welcome here.
Thus, good friends, let hearts be merry!
Two-oh-ninteen might bring us very
Different luck than we've had lately—
Fates improving bigly, greatly,
Spirits to protect and guide us,
Inspiration strong inside us,
Clearer vision, wiser choices.
Hear our better angels' voices.
Extracted from New Yorker, 18 December 2017 (with one tiny change).
Prayer
Almighty God,
you make us glad with the yearly remembrance
of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer,
so we may with sure confidence behold him
when he shall come to be our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
