from Madeleine L'Engle

I picked up a book of L'Engle's poetry (The Ordering of Love) for a couple bucks a few weeks back. Best find of the season... (sorry Bebo).

“The Risk of Birth, Christmas, 1973”
Madeleine L’Engle

This is no time for a child to be born,

With the earth betrayed by war & hate

And a comet slashing the sky to warn

That time runs out & the sun burns late

That was no time for a child to be born,

In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;

Honor & truth were trampled by scorn –

Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?

The inn is full on planet earth,

And by a comet the sky is torn –

Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.