If Christ Was Born Tonight

Whetstone Poetry:

While sitting in the Laundromat today, I picked up a book and read “The Gift” written by William Carlos Williams, after which, I wrote this poem.  William Carlos Williams  happens to be a favorite poet of mine and I strongly encourage you to read “The Gift” for yourself.  Even if it means you will not have time to read below.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If Christ Was Born Tonight

©2011 Robert C Burnham

If Jesus were to be born tonight

And people knew about His coming

I do not think that He would be

Relegated to a mere manger

No, I am convinced

Trump would offer up a tower

Obama; the whole West Wing

Gates would provide a golden crib

With the ‘Windows’ logo

Etched on the headboard

Nike would rush over with

A pair of swoosh-emblazoned

Booties, from a sweat shop

In Indonesia

While Fisher-Price and Playskool

Hollered dibs to place mobiles above

The little Lord’s head

The swaddling cloths would be replaced

By the tiniest Amani suit, and

The little drummer boy would be

Pushed out by

The Blackeyed Peas, Taylor Swift and

U2

Oprah would host a special

To televise the birth

While Leno and Letterman vied

For the Joseph interview

There would be gifts (and exploitations)

From GM

            and Toyota

                        and Enron

                                    and Verizon

                                                and Wal-Mart

                                                            and Lowe’s

                                                                        and Wells Fargo

                                                                                    and DeBeers

All joined by

Coke, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Fedex and Allstate

Assuredly, a nativity of geckos would be erected in Central Park

If Jesus were to be born tonight

Shepherds from the fields

Would be turned away to

Allow room for the celebrity throng

And the angels’ view would be

Obstructed by the Goodyear blimp

But

Jesus isn’t being born tonight,

He is already here

And across the land

It remains business as usual

Can I get an

Amen

"Jesus in a Basket" by Robert B.