Advent to Christmas: Waiting
By Peter Menkin
December 13, 2009

How the season turns in the day, in the continued
And continuing holiday--for the birth
Of our Saviour. What to do, but wait on the Lord.
Awaken.

No tree yet, for Advent three is tomorrow
Sunday.
Tomorrow, a tree—but not real,
Facsimile, model green foot high
Christmas tree.

Reminder of the season,
Season of kindness, hope,
Thanks be to God.

A small sculpture in angles
This tree. Symbol of evergreen,
It is a pleasure to see you again.
Awaken.

Waiting for the newness in the winter,
In the dark as days turn more towards the light,
And the California cold with rain
Tells of the weatherman’s prediction:
Grey sky, clouds--let the brightness
Of the season with its cheer leave us
In joy and remembrance
As we think of others.

Let us remember the hope
The birth of Christ means,
Renewal and New Testament of
Gospel pleasures and comfort.

Tree, slim and modern of the 21st century
Likeness of the living reality, we know
Christ will come. Awaken.

Poem or prayer, this journey of Christmas,
This series of still words in the calm of the
Night
Brings serene knowledge of quiet
Expectation. Awaken.

Celebration in patience is the hallmark this
Year, in the cold late night awakening
Of the truth remarkable, the new Christmas,
Again, this time of the year, hallowed days
Of the expectant waiting on the Saviour

This is a work in progress.

The Awakening Spirit...(2001)
By Peter Menkin
________________________________________

The vision on awakening
during morningtime, blue sky
white flower sky
painting tree
with creation reality.

This great experience
of the spirit;
the new life of incarnate
God -- the Christ.

"I in them and they in me,
that they may be perfectly one."
Advent days; come Lord.
Winter light hours beckon.
The poinsettias red leaves.

Audio reading of poem by poet here:

"Advent"

by Peter Menkin

Grace:

Yielding To God.

Quiet:

Waiting In the season.

Christ is coming,

Born this year.

"Listening to my Muse, Conversations w/the Holy Spirit III"

by Peter Menkin

The resurrection of the dead, you Almighty

blessed from eternity to eternity, say

"...in that age and in the resurrection from the dead

neither marry nor are given in marriage."

Pray,

"Indeed they cannot die anymore."

Mystery and wonder, can this be--the end.

As I wait this Advent, waiting on Christmas,

the beauty of the liturgy, the starry Eucharist,

the gathering of the congregation, what is desire?

I desire You; oh, my soul

I read the Psalms as St. Romauld suggests,

and my dear one Christ, which a Priest says,

offers wisdom's gifts of healing, too. Manifold graces, tears.

"Advent Candle"

by Peter Menkin

Lit a candle.

My heart is beginning,

My heart is hopeful,

My heart is open.

It is in the season,

A coming, something.

A coming, remarkable.

A coming, promise.

It is the light in the day.

Advent, the season for preparation for the birth of Christ...

The best thing about this poem is that it says, "Mary says 'yes' to the Lord." I like that very much, it is so wonderful. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,/ my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." That from "The Song of Mary" also called, "Magnificat." I know my poem doesn't compare to it, yet I join my voice with others in proclaiming the wonder.

What song we Hear, what Peace...

by Peter Menkin

Angels are a light to the eye,

offering clarity of the night, bringing

joy in message and presence

of the morning through day;

this season again what song, what peace~ Mary

who says yes to the Lord.

Was it dark, the darkness of the hidden life,

among the secrets of the darkness of night,

when Mary said yes to the Lord?

It seemed she was so alone, young, but a girl.

Innocent. In the darkness of the world,

in the time of man's darkness for lack of God.

Turning away from Him,

lost in man's history.

When Mary said yes to the Lord.

The Angel brought light,

to Mary, to mankind in a darkness of faith,

adrift in the history of man's making.

When Mary said yes to the Lord.