Good Day and Good Night, For My Father, and In the Dark; One, Two, and Three

A Set of Three on Christmas Eve

One:

Good Day and Good Night

I have decided to tell everyone
That I am in bed with the flu today
Till Christmas passes and the year is done
I cannot bear it any other way

I would like to be a philanthropist
But have no money with which to endow
What I would like and am no optimist
I cannot afford to buy my books now
Nor coffee for Grandma's percolator
There will always be good work for later
If unfortunately not done by me

Everyone would be on my Christmas list
But all I have is all this poetry
So I will stay in bed all day and write
Hibernating to return with the sun

Till Christmas passes and the year is done
I wish everyone good day and good night

Two:

For My Father

My father you have so much blood on your hands
You made your living killing
And yet you would be the one who understands
If only you were willing

From you I learned that life is not fair
Kill or be killed death lives everywhere

You are old now as am I

Here on the battlefield man to man
Let us make peace as we die
If it is not too late if we can
If you are willing

After the killing

Three:

In the Dark

Christmas Eve turned out to be
Quiet and harmonious
My first thought had been to flee
But that proved erroneous

It turned out to be just fine
Not so bad at all for me
Through a twinkle a divine
Spark of love and synergy

Though my heart was bleak and stark
Christ was born there in the dark

+Steven Curtis Lance



Copyright MMVI