WHEN HE SAID, "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR"
HE DIDN'T SPECIFY,
THE COLOR THAT THE GUY SHOULD BE
OR SHOULD HE WEAR A TIE,
OR THAT HE LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR
OR LIVE ACROSS THE SEA,
OR IF HE'D OWN A VAST ESTATE,
OR LIVE IN HOUSE, OR TENT,
OR TO WHICH LODGE OR CHURCH HE'D GO
OR EVEN IF HE WENT!
HE DIDN'T DRAW A CONTRACT, CLAUSED, WITH LOTS
OF TINY PRINT.
HE MERELY TOLD THEM WHAT HE MEANT,
NOT TO CONFUSE THE CROWD
HE MADE IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE,
HE SAID IT CLEAR AND LOUD
HE SAID IT VERY LOUD AND CLEAR
HE MEANT IT SHOULD BE HEARD...
HE KNEW THEY'D UNDERSTAND HIM
HE MEANT IT, EVERY WORD
THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE MEANT,
AND EVERY HEART WAS STIRRED.
HE DIDN'T AIM TO LOUSE IT UP
BY BURYING IT DEEP
UNDER FANCY PHRASES
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP
HE KNEW THEY'D TRY TO CHANGE IT
THE BOYS WHOSE GAME HE'D QUEER-
THE BIGOTS,AND THE HATERS,
THE CROWD THAT THRIVE ON FEAR-
SO HE MADE A FINAL STATEMENT
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP THAT DAY
DON'T BE LIKE THE PHARISEES...
DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU,
LEARN TO LOVE, AS WELL AS PRAY.
AND HOW WOULD WE RECEIVE HIM
IF HE SHOWED UP ONCE MORE?
A BAREFOOT BEARDED JEW, WITH CALLOUSED HANDS-
AND NOT A LANDED GENT-
HE CHOSE TO LIVE HIS LIFE THIS WAY
TO SHOW US WHAT HE MEANT-
JUST IN CASE WE OVERLOOKED THE FACTS WE READ IN PRINT...
INTO OUR GLOSSY MONIED CHURCHES
THROUGH THE POLISHED, MODERN DOORS...
WELL GROOMED CONGREGATIONS, IN THEIR POLISHED PEWS
WOULD STARE-
WARN THEIR PASTORS, WITH BLEAK FACES,
TO ACCEPT HIM,
IF THEY DARE !
WOULD HE FIND AGAIN THE CHRISTMAS
OF TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO?
CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY
ONCE AGAIN,
IN A STABLE?
IN THE SNOW?
HE ALONE
OF ALL THE PEOPLE
OF THIS TEEMING EARTH-
HAD A CHOICE
AND, HAD HE CHOSEN
TO BE KING
BY RIGHT OF BIRTH
TO BE OTHER THAN MARY'S SON-
A WEALTHY, CULTURED
PAMPERED LORD-
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE-
THEN...
WHO IS LEFT TO BE ADORED?
BY THE HAVE NOTS
AND SUCH.
SUCH LOVE IS NOT GIVEN JUST FOR PRIDE.
WOULD WE FOLLOW IN HIS WAY
IF OTHERS WALKED, SO HE COULD RIDE?
(scripture reference, Matthew, chapter 5)
OUI?
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