by Mary Saracino
Dark night
Holy night
Sun’s light
Inner sight
all that’s lost
or seems to be
lies coiled and cold
beneath the soil
slumbering seedlings
whisper songs
of justice
prayers for peace
oh, may we soon
remember we
are made of earth and sky
siblings to creatures
great and small
birds and bees
whales and wallabies,
towering redwoods
delicate fiddle-headed ferns
salty seas and mighty oceans
melting ice caps and babbling brooks
bound by holy obligation
to honor and protect
comfort and serve
the fading heartbeat of our
Mother planet
on this longest night
may we remember
we need one another
more than we need
wealth or power
prestige or prizes
Dark night
Holy night
Sun’s light
Inner sight
light a candle
to illuminate
ignorance and hatred
ease our hearts
thaw our fears
bring us home
at long, long last.
Mary Saracino is a novelist, poet and memoir-writer who lives in Lafayette, CO . Her most recent novel, The Singing of Swans (Pearlsong Press 2006) was a 2007 Lambda Literary Awards Finalist. Her short story, "Vicky's Secret" earned the 2007 Glass Woman Prize.
___________________________________________