Duet for Wings and Earth
Song of Bethlehem
I am Bethlehem. I am not
where you think I am, a circle
on a map. My borders extend
to Afghanistan and Ecuador
I am the valley of the shadow of death
I am the room where you warm your hands
while you're waiting to hear if you have cancer
I am the place where you visit your children
for weekends, when your marriage is broken
I am the prayer you didn't know you were saying.
When you drift into sleep, and somewhere deep within you
it is snowing, I am
Bethlehem: the place where God
tore himself from himself
(from Duet for Wings and Earth, by Barbara Colebrook Peace)
Barbara Colebrook Peace
is an award-winng poet and author living in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. more...