Shall We Call It Christmiss Now?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Bring it up to date;

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Concentrate on hate?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Bomb the Chinese red;

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Total up the dead?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Heap the manger high

With plastic, oil and motor cars

Adored while others die?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Two thousand years have rolled

With crushing iron wheels of greed

Across the place foretold?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Shall we stop our ears;

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

To children chained in fears?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Have done with better things;

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

And clip the angels’ wings?

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

Pollute the endless seas,

Kick the beggar, breed like flies,

Throw away the keys

Of life, of love, of thankfulness,

Of hand to hand in prayer;

Shall we call it Christmiss now,

We see the way so clear?

Or shall we call it Christmas still,

Your birthday, little Lord,

When Mary wept and angels cheered

The snipping of the cord?

(December, 1972)