A Light Has Dawned (Advent Poem 2016)

In keeping with my yearly tradition, one I have now kept up for twenty-five years, I wrote a poem during the Advent season to share with friends and loved ones. Actually this year I wrote several, but this was the one that seemed to call out for sharing. It's inspired in part by the verse in the epigraph (Matthew 4:16, which is of course echoing Isaiah 9:2) and also by the difficult path I've walked this year. I hope it will offer anyone reading it encouragement, for indeed, the light has dawned! Jesus is the light of the world, and he beckons us to follow him.

A blessed Christmas!

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A Light Has Dawned 

(“The people dwelling in darkness 

have seen a great light, and for those 

living in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light  has dawned."  

-- Matthew 4:16)

The road is steep and dark and long.

I strain my ears to hear the song

Of stars that glimmer through the limbs

Of trees that nod and sway and bend –

I do not know this place I’m in.

I fear the night, and oh! the cold!

I try to make my heart feel bold

By walking straight and strong and true

But oh! the dark! What can I do?

The stars are all the light I see.

They peek in patterns through the trees

And glance upon the drops of rain

That caught in branches, sing of pain

But somehow, offer healing too –

I pause and wonder what to do

If the rain grows stronger, longer,

If the night grows older, colder,

If the darkness overwhelms

And leaves me in the shadow realms.

But suddenly it pierces through –

A light that’s bright and strong and true,

A light I know I’ve seen before,

It glows and makes my spirit soar!

It lights the pathway for my feet,

It pulses with the star song’s beat.

To my surprise, my steps grow sure

And all the raindrops look so pure!

The star song grows more loud and sweet –

I think I recognize this street!

A lane called mercy, a trail of grace

(the branches look like bridal lace)

The beauty of the night entrances,

(limbs and twigs are silver lances)

And everywhere light permeates,

I look and look and see a face –

The face of a small baby child,

A face so tender and so mild.

He beckons me to go along,

To walk this suffering road of song,

To follow heaven’s pulsing ray

To wait for dark to turn to day.

For one day darkness will be banished

Pain and tears forever vanish –

I will step through the cross shaped door

And find my home forevermore.

                ~Elisabeth M. Priest, Advent 2016