The Other Side Of Bethelehem by James Cordray
THE OTHER SIDE OF BETHLEHEM
A MIRACLE CHILD IS BORN
To Baby Esperanza born December 29th in a homeless shelter
The goddamn truck broke down and it’s rained for days. There’s no more work here and the next row crops are two hundred miles to the east. Three days ago Maria took sick and I’ve got no money for a room or a meal. So we eat once a day at a Baptist church, sleep in our truck sitting up, and keep praying that the child comes late.
She had no crib of manger straw to lie on
She had no swaddling cloth to keep her warm
No trail-sore Magi from the East arrived
No adoring gifts of gold bestowed
Nor hillside shepherds came to worship
No special star on high this time
To mark her tiny holy place
No scent of myrrh or frankincense
To anoint her newborn migrant face
She had no crib of manger straw to lie on
She had no swaddling cloth to keep her warm
But somewhere on the other side of Bethlehem
A homeless child, a miracle child was born.
Poet: James Cordray
Bio: Older poet retired on social insecurity. Can’t march very far anymore but can still resist with words for freedom and liberation.
Categories: Poetry
