tidings

greetings de jour
merry
merry

may you be
indeed

yet if you find
merry
buried
or made murky
by pain
in body or in mind
or tenderest of all
in heart

be gentle
sweet soul
for merry is a blessing
but not an accomplishment
or achievement
or requirement

find a moment
to remind you
of hope

hope for healing
hope for restoration
hope for the gift
given or received
of forgiveness

and remember
word from angel to shepherd
on wintery middle-eastern hill
was not of merry anything

it was
joy – yes
but first
it was
comfort