Halfway down the Danube

A Christmas poem

Been busy lately. But here's a seasonal poem that y'all might like that I found recently:

To Jesus: Moon

Since you receive light from another source

Since you rise into the high skies,
while many people watch

Since you receive light again,
even though your body dies

Since you remove the darkness of the world
by your light

Since you conceal your large form
in a round white disk

Since you carry a blemish

Since those who look at stars
sought you

Since you give light for everyone,
being appropriate for supplicants

Since the hero of my poem, the Lord who was born of a virgin girl
who conceived through the Holy Spirit
is like you,
moon of the beautiful sky,
it is right that you immediately agree
to rejoice and happily play.

With him who is united with Tamil
that flows like a waterfall,
O moon, come to play.

With the son of God seated
on the right side of gracious God,
O moon, come to play.

This poem, by Arul Chelladurai, was taken from Paula Richman's article, "Tamil songs to God as a child," in the Princeton compilation, Religions of India in practice, edited by Donald S. Lopez. While modern, it's written in an ancient Tamil form, the pillaitamil, where the poet addresses a deity as if it were a baby. Often, as in this poem, the moon is beseeched to come be its playmate.

Anyway, I thought it was cool.