light of hope

Gaza 

space carved out 

by the sea 

360 square kms of war zone

and rubble 

where Hamas 

hides with hostages 

and IDF kills indiscriminate 

and we wonder how peace can flutter down 

like Christmas on this place of the displaced 

can we shine our lights of hope 

on this brutal war 

on innocents 

or does our light only burn 

in our warm rooms so far away

winter 2023

it seems  like 

winter is catching on

snow piling up 

I don’t think this will melt now 

it’s here to stay 

through November and December 

right to March or April 

spring so far away 

but we can still sing solstice 

and Christmas 

and new year 

and heart day 

and the feast of St. Patrick 

voices tuned together 

for survival 

like kindling catching flame