Fourth Sunday of Advent

"Christmas Eve"

The Grinch and Rudolph chat by the sheep.
Shepherds pose in ugly Christmas sweaters,
the donkey judging the winner.
Elves work busily, stacking
toys by the oxen.
The Magi exchange White Elephant gifts.
Joseph sips a latte from Starbucks
watching a Hallmark rerun.
A package from Amazon has just arrived.
Leaning on the manger
the Neiman Marcus Santa 
wearily eyes the clock.

Debris orbits the gravitational
pull of the Miracle
as the seasonal trash patch accumulates
upon the Ocean of Eternity.

But in the sleepy hours
some behold the clearer vision.
These light candles in the darkness
and sing carols in the night.