Advent, 1971

       When will he come

and how will he come

and will there be warnings

and will there be thunders

and rumbles of armies

coming before him

and banners and trumpets

When will he come

and how will he come

and will we be ready

       O woe to you people

you sleep through the thunder

you heed not the warnings

the fires and the drownings

the earthquakes and stormings

and ignorant armies

and dark closing on you

the song birds are falling

the sea birds are dying

no fish now are leaping

the children are choking

in air not for breathing

the aged are gasping

with no one to tend them

       a bright star has blazed forth

and no one has seen it

and no one has wakened

~Madeleine L’Engle