1396

I know, and do not worry how I know,

That love outlasts, out shines outflanks them all.

Regardless of the cataracts that fall

Upon us and the world's demonic glow,

Love survives, love overcomes, love grows,

Love bumbles on, love sticks around, love grafts,

Love undermines all wickedness, love laughs,

Love waits until the rest have failed, love knows;

There's nothing that outlasts love's patient joy -

Knowing that eternity is real -

No power on earth has power enough to steal

The truth that love itself is never coy

Faced with barbarity, insult and shame

Love smiles, and looks all evil in the eye

Knowing that true love can never die

For love is ready to accept the blame.

Brian Hick September 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 10.10.25

 1335

Boxing Day 2013

Suddenly it's over

And the noise, and bustle and the expectation

Fade into wrapping paper, cold turkey and sprouts.

Peace, so sung about, descends

On our streets where lights still flash in silence,

Waiting for the New Year to erupt

And move us on to weeks of work,

Winter greyness and normality.

Shopping returns to the Tesco list

Of stuff we always buy,

Confounded only when they move the aisles.

And church? The slight excitement of the snow

Which trapped the preacher outside Tunbridge Wells

Is soon forgotten in the round

Of meetings, practices and minor arguments.

And Christmas? Just another passing phase -

A date, a day to get through like the rest?

Or did this Christmas shock us a bit,

Realising God is here with us,

Though we so often act

As if Jesus were for Christmas -

Not for life.

Brian Hick December 2013

©copyright Sally Hick 22.1.25