Christmas Flowering - Poem

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 24, 1999 by Kathleen Gunton

   The bracts have had
   their hours of darkness.
   Saint Lucy's light in high
   relief shines on the 13th.
   This branch cut. So pure,
   the albescent blood of Christmas
   pours forth as genesis of change,
   conveyed by Gabriel
   in the naming of Your name
   Emmanuel!

--Kathleen Gunton Orange, Calif.