Posted by Bishop Greg Rickel, Diocese of Olympia (Western Washington)
An Amazing Christmas Carol premiered by King’s College Choir on Christmas Eve. It is about the Syrian Refugee Crisis. I have posted the prose, the video montage with the performance in the background below, and the composer, Richard Causton’s, statement here
The Flight, By George Szirtes
The child on the dirtpath
finds the highway blocked
The dogs at the entrance
snarl that doors are locked
The great god of kindness
has his kindness mocked
May those who travel light
Find shelter on the flight
May Bethlehem
Give rest to them.
The sea is a graveyard
the beach is dry bones
the child at the station
is pelted with stones
the cop stands impassive
the ambulance drones
We sleep then awaken
we rest on the way
our sleep might be troubled
but hope is our day
we move on for ever
like children astray
We move on for ever
our feet leave no mark
you won’t hear our voices
once we’re in the dark
but here is our fire
this child is our spark.
*warning strong visual images in video