Forty Years from Canaan

My tongue is clearly sewn into my cheek

They were forty years from Canaan,
those poor Chosen Ones of God,
and they'd never know their future:
the Crusaders, the Jihad.
 
Yet they waded through their slaughters
like a lily in the flood,
raising their scarred hands to Yaweh,
tempests boiling in their blood.

 

Now, two thousand years from Caanan,

all their bloody history

is upset by one foul symbol:

that accursed Christmas tree.

Author's Note

Obviously no offense is meant to anyone. One of my lit profs was complaining yesterday about how the Christmas tree is so pervasive around Christmas time (she's Jewish), so I ran with it. I'm not Jewish myself, but I do find it rather annoying that the Christmas tree has such a powerful sway over the holidays.

Reviews

[JohnL]

I'm glad you offered explanation - there is some scope for misinterpretation, and the tragedy is that the land of Milk and Honey could truly add the third and tragic word to the triplet - blood. Always was and seemingly, always seems fated to be. We have not just 'bloody history' but 'bloody today' and 'bloody tomorrow'. But let's not be too hard on the Christmas tree. Perhaps we should be hard on its exploiters who, being honest come from all sides of the great religious divides seeking to make money. I, a Christian, have had wonderful tiimes with my many Jewish friends round the Menorah, with friends of all faiths round the Christmas tree. What a wonderful symbol it would be to unite under an olive branch held by a dove flying out from the world's first aircraft carrier.
I know you're busy Emily, but when you get an opportunity, try to read Michener's 'The Source'. It deals with that area and the times from pre-history until the founding of the State of Israel.

[Charles D. Moorer]

The last line says it all. And your are absolutely right, the christmas tree...

[maggie42]

*smiles* The duality of Christmas actually fascinates me, part christian, part pagan ( the christmas tree being pagan )

much enjoyed the read, interesting topic :)

[Donald Meikle]

What is it with pagan that beckons me so? Is the answer as plain as a tree? Is She still waiting til greed is fulfilled? Or is Mother Nature just free?

[Johnny White]

The "Christmas tree" is absolutely an adopted symbol and, much like the Easter Bunny, has only been preserved in order to serve as a secular prod for the celebration of these holidays by the strictly socially-religious majority.
I do find it funny, albeit offensive, that an icon which has long since lost it's formal symbolism is more easily recognized by school children than the menorah.
I appreciate your use of cross-cultural historical references and of the name Yaweh. It's always bothered me that saying "god" around many people will land you with the reaction, "Don't take the Lord's name in vain!"
I mean, isn't "god" a title?
Nice work!

[Carey Lenehan]

Nicely ironic and very true. Of course the Christmas tree is more to do with the whole pagan pre-christian winter celebration wasn't it, or was it just invented by the Americans? Good write. XXCarey