Sharon's Christmas Prayer

submitted by Felipe Salinas

by John Shea


She was five,
sure of the facts,
and recited them
with slow solemnity,
convinced every word
was revelation.
She said

          they were so poor
          they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat
          and they went a long way from home
          without getting lost. The lady rode
          a donkey, the man walked, and the baby
          was inside the lady.
          They had to stay in a stable
          with an ox and an ass (hee-hee)
          but the Three Rich Men found them
          because a star lited the roof.
          Shepherds came and you could
          pet the sheep but not feed them.
          Then the baby was borned.
          And do you know who he was?

Her quarter eyes inflated
to silver dollars.

          The baby was God.

And she jumped in the air,
whirled around, dove into the sofa,
and buried her head under the cushion
which is the only proper response
to the Good News of the Incarnation.


from The God Who Fell from Heaven / The Hour of the Unexpected, by John Shea, Thomas More Press, 1995.


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