10)"A Baby Was Born in Bethlehem" James Metelak

A Baby Was Born in Bethlehem

Cardboard pop.

Confetti.

Ribbons.

A baby was born today
A child was born in Bethlehem

His passport isn't recognized.

His home was bulldozed because his parents

Couldn't get a permit (systematic prejudice)

There was "no room at the inn"

Arabs didn't want him

Europe was afraid of him

Americans are arguing about who's the toughest on

Immigration

So he was born in a tent

In a refugee camp

They came bearing gifts and

Me, well,

I've got a bullet for you for Christmas

Mom and Dad aren't talking

And the presidents are telling us

Who can and can't be friends
Santa's naughty list

Depends on the news channel

You're watching

There's a bright light on the road to Damascus

A Mirage on the horizon

I was going to send you chocolate and oranges

But the sanctions just kicked in

Come New Year's we're praying

Our money will still be worth something

Dear mom and dad, we need your

Son to try to put back together the world

And one wonders how much difference there is

Between a jacket of C4 and a gun.

They came bearing gifts:

M-16s, AK-47s, Gas, Bombs

The drones are always watching

And the NSA's tracking your calls

The Saudi government wants your head

Cuz they don't like what your blog says

The tree is lined with barbed wire,

A flare on top,
Grenades hung from the branches,
A line of golden bullets wind around the bannister

And there's a Stinger launcher hung over the hearth.

Obama, Putin, and Hollande are laying an arsenal

Before the bassinet

Assad's bombing the village in hopes the baby won't grow up

And Rouhani and Saud and Erdogan are supporting their pet

Freedom-Fighterish Mobs

Asses bray violence,

Sheep baa-ing nationalism and fear,

Border fences and anti-Islamic sentiments

Angels sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic

There are not enough graves in the world

To hold the hate
And there's not enough water in the oceans

To drown the fear

My eyes are open and the answers are easy

And easily impossible

Goodwill to men,

Jesus, there will be no crown of thorns or cross,

No whip-streaked back for you

You're not gonna make it that far

The baby lies in ribbons on the ground

Rearrange the body's wreckage to spell out

Peace on Earth








James Metelak is a poet, singer-songwriter, photographer, and the primary editor of Headpiece.   Check out his book, The Great Word G-d, his latest album, photos, or a little bit of everything at his website.  He currently lives and works in an orphanage in Central Asia.  If you like this poem, look for his upcoming book, Reasons for Cutting the Power to a Large Section of America, coming 2016.