Spiritual Sunday – 4th Sunday of Advent
I am of two minds about running the following Christmas poem by my father. On the one hand, it captures the hope that Jesus represents, along with some of the syncretism involved in the manger drama. Every religion combines elements of previous religions in its symbolism, and the birth story draws on multiple traditions.
On the other hand, while the poem captures Advent darkness, it doesn’t capture Advent hope. In that way, it reminds me of a stanza from the song “Rock Island Line,” as sung by the Weavers:
Jesus died to save our sins,
Glory to God, we’re gonna need him again.
Bates’s poem ends with a variant of the classic Mafia threat, “Nice little place you got here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.” We can regard his message, however, as a reminder of what hope looks like, whatever the planet’s environmental prospects. My father’s sense of playfulness turns bleak prospects into a humorous wake-up call.
The Nativity Plot
By Scott Bates
“Curiously enough, the dolphins had long known of the impending destruction of the planet Earth and had made many attempts to alert mankind to the danger, but most of their communications were misinterpreted as amusing attempts to punch footballs or whistle for tidbits…” – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
As in earlier times
we were alerted . . .
As for example when (with
tremendous foresight
and incredible organizational ability)
those two remarkable animals
the Ox and the Ass (crudely referred to
in other contexts as “Mithra” and “Dionysus”)
carefully arranged and supervised
a quiet little coming-out party
in the middle of the night in a central location in the
Middle East
in an attempt to raise the ratio of basic intelligence
in the universe
(The operation had been carried out under the direction
of the Dove “Isis”
who had personally delivered the main invitation
while assorted sheep goats camels sheepdogs etc.
rounded up kings and shepherds for publicity)
It had been quite a success
and brought about a number of needed reforms
but that was a long time ago
and since then a lot of people have blown it
and a lot of other people haven’t even gotten the message
in spite of everything the dolphins and others
(like rats chimpanzees great auks and Galapagos finches)
could do to straighten us out
Too bad
It was a nice little planet
and in the meantime we’ve been wondering
what those cockroaches have been
holding mass meetings about
in our kitchen . . .
Other Christmas Poems by Scott Bates
A Solution to Nativity Scene Battles
Holly & Ivy Dance to the Music of the Moon
Night before Christmas on the Moon
Move with the Wind, Sleep under the Snow
Midwinter Transformation: A Poem
An ABC of Children’s Books
The Divine Comedy, Doggerel Version
Books Unleashed in Christmas Carrels
Epiphany Sunday and the Arabian Nights
Epiphany from a Camel’s Point of View
A Roc for Christmas (Annual Bird Count)
Christmas Eve (Updated)
Christmas Bird Count from Santa’s Sleigh
Letters from Mrs. Santa Claus
A Season for Miraculous Breakthroughs
The Divine Enters through Imagination’s Holes
The Quest of the Marvelous Tree
Where Are the Fathers of Yesteryear?
Moving through Death’s Doorway