A Plea From Christmas Past

I wrote this song last Christmas a little bit before I joined WC. I had heard of people bemoaning the commercialization of Christmas for years, yet every year? Worse. This is a word of realization.

Believers know that the story’s right,

This Birth, at His divine behest;

So why this Night, which should be blessed,

Is now for sale, like all the rest?

The meaning of this Holy Night,

Now darkened by the tinseled lights,

Puts piety to spiritual test…and then…He’s born.

 

The blessed Night, in klieg-lit danger,

Does not suggest a rustic manger,

Akin to all the prophesies foretold.

That holiness now is bought and sold.

And the phrase he prays, that one lone stranger;

Echoes like the manger prayers of old…and then…He’s born.

 

            Why was this day, our Savior’s birth,

            A day of spiritual reverence,

            Replaced by love and peace divided?

            By one bright star three kings were guided,

            With gifts of humble deference;

            What would that cost be deemed as worth?

            And the Night that lore decreed be Silent

            Now screams with hatred -- greed - - violence….

Dwarfed by selfishness and scorn…

He’s born…

He’s born.

 

Black Friday’s framed by reckless spending,

Count your gadgets; happy ending?

Our knees, not wallets, should be bending…

For His bleak Friday, in much warmer season

Was Black for vastly different reasons

He would give his life to save us all…

            And we thank him now…inside the mall??

 

            Perhaps the faithful, on Christmas morn

            Devout in belief and on this day

            The world will sanctify and praise…

That He is born…..That He is born…!

 

           

dan © 2015

 

 

Music: “Hallelujah,” by Jeff Buckley

Author's Note

Reviews

[Amber Lily]

I am not a religious person, but I couldn't agree more with what you are trying to say. I'd much rather Christmas be about its roots rather than this mess. It is a time meant to be celebrated with happiness, not greed. I've never left my house on black Friday and proud to say I never will. The supposedly great deals are not worth a broken neck.
So very few people celebrate Christmas for its true meaning. These days it seems that the standards of being a 'good Christian family' just means making your kids happy with materialistic gifts.
This sends a great message and I hope people who read this will be reminded of why Christmas is around in the first place :)

[dan]

I'm a formerly religious guy who is not against Christmas but found out that way before I was too broke to worry about who's gettin' what (Answers: !. nobody, 2.nothing), back when my wife and I would enjoy Christmas not for what we got but what we gave...yeah, before all that, way before I was barely not-a-kid-anymore, I started to see the cracks in the Christmas façade. Now I think the true barometer, the measuring stick for the criteria to judge whether you've had a good Christmas or not is 1. are your kids still speaking to you? Without using profanity? 2. Exactly what date will it be when your home is foreclosed upon? 3. Is that gun loaded? 4. Wait!...can I get a strong drink? I'm glad you found something within my piece that touched you a bit. take care...dan

[JayceeC]

We do. Actually a little less shopping and more time making memories. Hope you and Dee have a blessed Christmas with those grandbabies. Children being a special joy to the season. May your family have a blessed Christmas season, Dan.

[dan]

Thank you, Jan! We hope that you and Otto and family and loved ones witness the happiness and joy that comes with Christmas and New Year. Happy (oh, God!) 2016! take care...dan

[Mara]

wow great poem here

'So why this Night, which should be blessed,
Is now for sale, like all the rest?'

You're completely right, when people think of Christmas these days all they think about is what new toy they'll be getting

'Count your gadgets; happy ending?'

Thank you for sharing!

[dan]

Tee, Thank you so much. While I am certainly not anti-Christmas I just abhor the manic buildup for 2 months, which seems to make Christmas shopping a competition that can leave people feeling like they are losers in "the game." That's not what Christmas is supposed to be about. take care...dan

[zaisham9393]

I loved this poem.
Beautifully written dear friend .
Thank you so much for sharing:))))).

[dan]

Zaisha, Each year the leadup to Christmas seems longer and longer. The real meaning of the day seems to be further obscured by the commercialism. Thanks so much for your read/review. take care...dan

[zaisham9393]

I agree with you.The true meaning of Christmas or any festival lies in family get together and not necessarily in just buying expensive gifts and all the materialistic stuff.

[Kelly Scheppers]

"Our knees, not wallets, should be bending…"

I know how you feel, Dan. I worked in retail for 10 years at a local mall on the east coast, just when Sundays began opening up for business. Every year, right before Halloween, the transition began taking form.

It should be about who's around the tree, instead of what's under it!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday, and know I wish you well!

[dan]

"It should be about who's around the tree instead of what's under it." Wow, can I quote you on that? Or plagiarize you? Seriously that line is perfect, I have to remember that. Thank you for your great review. take care...dan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i love the juxtaposition of the real meaning of christmas against what the real meaning is now for so many...the commercialism, materialism...everyone trying to outdo his neighbor with decorations---no more subtle, soft cheer, and carols in the air...

it's buy buy buy.

j.

[dan]

Thank you jacob, and it gets worse every year. I saw my first Christmas commercial this year Oct. 30! When I was growing up there wasn't any thing such as Black Friday. And I find is so stupidly ironic is that people rush to the stores to buy NEW things the DAY AFTER giving thanks for the things we HAVE. Thank you very much for your review, always appreciated. take care...dan

[...]

Hello Dan. I am not religious, but I still love the moralist plea here. People seem to have lost their minds, even their hearts. I still have hope. In the worst of times love rises. We shall see. I wish you and yours a warm and peaceful holiday, dear poet. Blessings
lynn

[dan]

lynn, I am not at all religious either, but I saw my first Christmas "buy me" commercial on Halloween! It gets worse every year. That is what made me turn to the religious angle, to re-educate anyone who cares to heed that we've lost sight of what the day stands for. I know that this makes me seem hypocritical, but it just seemed like the correct way to approach this write. I appreciate your kind words; I hope we cross paths again before the holidays, so I will wish you a HAPPY then, OK? Deal? take care...dan