with those who go for peace this or any day
the afternoon is leaning
as we have this day
to mark
the birth of Jesus
Joshua
who saves
and we have holly
I’m not sure about the ivy
bulbs on trees
of
various materials
that among things
challenge
cats
we have presents out of boxes
or assembled
of a shape that
takes
a ribbon only
and we’ll have special food
that might go heavy
or
go light
so many cuisines practiced
and we could have thoughts for those
without
and go take care of them
or us
depending on our place
and situation
a secular or sacred
day
or how many traditions are expressed
as they are lived
and on this day perhaps
strange
harmony
to be believed
and shared
and those in trenches
of all kinds
though not unlike
1914
could have the adversaries join
or to face reality
we launch from afar
or
that sometimes the trenched place
is a city street
or division
in one
literal family
and then the metaphor
of family
as all of us who are the world
and how we fight
or
have peace
might be affected by a day
more
or less if happily
imposed
and I guess I’ve said
let the true test
go tomorrow
not
by angels though they referee
or act as ancient chorus
but
in the waking light
of culture’s normal day
could fight less
and make
peace
more not because the time of year
says so
but
in a timeless important day
we
say so
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I think maybe I repeat myself from yesterday—oh, well, eve and now the day—and Merry Christmas with wishes for each a special day!
photo by Ice Angel on Unsplash
newly
I’ve been drafting for hours
and keep coming
back
to something like this
the Earth tilts
as it tilts
and we may claim distinction
of
the days
this
season counted
for example
is the new year for the church
having
started some days
ago
other years have begun
and others will begin
with
the world’s big one
or big night for
it
coming
in some
weeks
sip
of champagne at midnight
all I need
(sorry)
all
these beginnings
and often
we’re glad
maybe relieved
to close what has gone on before
behind
locked
what our psychologies
might need
but this is time
and
our inventions
and they’re interesting
(time
and
inventions)
anthropologies for an Anthropocene
age
and as we have new starts
what shall we count
anew
and could it be
unusual
as in
say
feeding the whole world as it can
be fed
by all of us
say
if most of the Earth’s children
might not have to go to bed
when hungry
and
the world might have safe water
and actively believe
in
the elimination
of
diseases
maybe we could say
like beginning at a crossroads
as at railroad Xes
(if
trite)
to stop
look
and listen
then when all clear move along
and
having stopped to get
to know
to hear
we might go in clarity as well as
specificity to help
roofs for homes for
all
some real
open moves toward peace
that don’t involve threatening
so
much
or
even victory
then there’s the chance
to learn
secured for all
maybe
at any are
and
I keep drafting about new years
and seasons
and
keep returning to the theme
of need and meeting
need
which is its thesis
too
and could be our own
a direction
an action plan
what have you
for
counting
uncounting new years
and
all the seasons
all of this the time
to help
I guess that’s all
except
to say
yes
we’ll make mistakes
but we’ll be
building
rather than hoarding or tearing
down
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photo by Ravi Kumar on Unsplash
church time December 7
moonlight was used
against
its use
as there was preparation
near
sunlight
to betray as well
on
early Sunday morning
when order
and white uniforms
were torn
apart
and life a tissue by attack
and
everything exploded
while ripped-up men and women
with
children close by
tried to shoot back and
also
run
to stations
and to homes
the attack upon our useful soil
and beautiful
while
we thought
to live there and none
should
bother us by might
and
arrangement
and yet
and yet
empire and
democracy
too much to reconcile
too
divergent for our values
so we fought
with destruction
as the theme and total
the result
so
the agenda
and the strategy
the chaos of attacking
on all
sides
and so the President and Congress
said
this is officially declared
and so to the west
and east
and so many points on Earth
to
call the war
world
second Sunday in Advent
when
the candle’s lit for
peace
and on that Sunday
eighty-four
years the count
the awful
lively
living and the dying there
and then
and how might all politics and factions
reconcile
only
by tragedy
and where there is alliance
or
appreciation
now
new fronts are drawn
between
within
and these days
the radical
it seems
to keep value in the sacrifice
done
and remembered
and to apply
as we tend to think in reverse
reminding
and if owning
of
the greatest sacrifice
become
the saving doctrine
remembered by the seasons
then
and now
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photo by Graddes on Unsplash
companion-able
what may I give to you
this day
silence perhaps
a treat
of companionship
I’ll be there
or
nearby
in any of the ways one
might be near
and you shall have some
peace
look up to say something
I’ll be there
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photograph by Claire Ward at Unsplash
devastating
we share the peace
in churches where we share
the peace
and
do we mean it
I think so
in the moment
anyway
then move on
through other liturgical obligations
then
there’s the peace outside
or lack of it
as
we know through local violence
and through war
wherever
in the heart that hates
justified by someone
for
some cause
and
yes
causes are important
but not the hatred
hatred’s not important
even though it causes loss
and
yes
destruction
of homes
minds
and hearts
and spirits can go wounded for a while
a long while
and what’s the restitution
we can talk reparation
but
what’s needing fixing is not money
or material
as I think you know
but soul
that needs repairing
by God and angels
though
while we’re here
through our pardon and our love
love
as pardon
for each other
and who can speak love
along bombed streets
leaning houses
if
houses at all
or what if the rival has learned nothing
in fact
in a state
keeping the world’s profit
even adulation
after all
after all the sacrifice
all the tortuous existence while conflict knew
its own
and took our parts of us
that
might remain wounded
even gone
for the foreseeable time
and
what does love call for then
while revenge
is warm
while damage is assessed then funded
and fixed
as best as can be done
and then tried patience for
the rest
but
that we try
on the gray days
with
autumn colors fading
barren winter
still
to come
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from actually inspiring events in response to the KKK intrusion in the town
Mechanicsburg Residents Pack Town Hall in Response to KKK Recruitment at Halloween Parade
story by Alton Northup
• 12h • [noon, 10/30/2025]
WHTM Harrisburg
and while reading “The Peace” by the Hermit Poet
at Edge of Humanity Magazine
photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
camp song
peace
give I to you
not as the world gives
give I to you
well
that’s how I learned it
I recall the high tones of campers
singing
behind the fire
while I and mine were
on the other side
and it was night
and so
we sang across the flames
while
dark
received peripherally
an antiphon
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(I couldn’t find the song as I searched on line, though I imagine somewhere in cyberspace the song is cited, if not sung)
photo by Josh Campbell on Unsplash
well wishing
(tossing coins)
I hope it is a good night
for you
if a dark night of the soul
a time with turmoil from confusion
or from fear
or from confusion’s fear
more hopefully
or maybe a time of easy rest through
the dark that could go
peacefully
to dawn
or whatever hour
serves
for rising as a new day
for you
however night goes
God is with you
with you
anyway
if
to think on our own failing
actions fixable
(they
are)
and sometimes lovable
from
endearing flaws
we are these wonderful mixtures
after all
are
we not
oh
and if working third shift
then I hope it’s
good rest for you by day
to have the hours
as
impulsive night
and night for all
its goodness
and its call to rest
to you
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photo by Luo JunHao on Unsplash
when I searched “sleep” and “night” and such for images, the searches came back with so many photos of cats—more than people, more than dogs—which says something about us, I imagine
3 poems for new seasons, Christmastime and others
stopping by Frost
gray day
black branches
cold outside
in mid-afternoon
it’s already getting dark
meaning that
November plays it part
in the drama of the seasons
in these parts
what is it
of the woods
they’re
lovely
dark
and
deep
wonderful for liturgy
in recitation
as a legacy
we quote famous things
once more with greater feeling
now and then
look for inspiration
anywhere
and sometimes recall
to look
you know
inside ourselves
remembering that
we are
lovely
dark
and
deep as well
there is no peace on Earth unless
so here we go
it’s Christmastime
a holy season
some
might recall
that has become a cosmic
thing
on planet Earth
and I’m not sure
how much we should mind
since
maybe the Christmas values get through
anyway
something about the cheer in giving
as well as
the fun in receiving
remember that Peace on Earth
is a staple
quotation of the season
that could always turn into
rhetoric
and discourse
meaning we may talk about it
as a worldly thing
through and beyond
any one
sect or group
so we could take our chances
to be people of the season
wherever
whomever on Earth
we might be
believing
peace ultimately
to be
a practical consideration
in addition to
philosophy
and foundational pin
of faith
human faith
allied with God
and yet on our own
to own
Peace on Earth
why don’t’ we
and
we just might
an un-pretty plan
(poet’s agenda)
let the pretty verse be offered by
someone else
here there is a need
to be plain
keep Earth or don’t
have Earth or not
make up our minds
God is waiting
not saving us in this
‘til it’s too late for us
to move in with judgment
when we could have lived without
paradise imposed
but at our pleasure
being our design
and plan
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The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
(from) “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
photo by Dmytro Vynohradov on Unsplash
poppies for soldiers
fields of poppies
fields of gravestones
all traditions
and maybe
nonbelief
should leave a blank stone
with name and
service
on an even shape
I wish that poppies were
non-soporific
although
I guess the sleep effect
is good
in what the poppies mean
for
those who sleep beneath
the flowers
and the stones
and those who sleep elsewhere
for the same reason
after service
after sacrifice
should sleep
each
should sleep
until the final call
that would be
a gentle and firm word to say
wake now
you’re well
and all
now
shall be well
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photo by Laura M Goodsell on Unsplash
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
(from) “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
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