For Annshalike Poem by r james sterzinger

the miracle of Christ
in the crib,
in the cave
the center of all things
with shepherds and animals
then getting away
to Egypt
to safety
seems to me all the more
poignant
this year

In North Minneapolis
just a few weeks
before Christmas
someone
took a girl
probably the same age
and beat her like a dog
baby inside her
killed too
then left her frozen
in a garage.

somewhere
Rachel weeps
a new Herod sleeps
content:
that the girl
and child
are no more.

where the light
shines
it shines
where the darkness
hangs on
it builds a home
a garage
a place to stay
that place kills
babies
and mothers
that are babies themselves.

there the darkness is great.