Bethlehem City of Bread

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 22, 2000 by Pat Mings

   God said:
   "The jar of flour
   shall not go empty
   nor jug of oil
   run dry."
   Yet man decided
   to ration,
   forego risk; so
   the hungry go
   empty away.

   Bethlehem yearns
   to birth abundant life.
   Its native son weeps
   for all to table
   cannot come
   Yet, Adam
   debates, decrees,
   delays; so
   the hungry go
   empty away.

-- Pat Mings Idaho Falls, Idaho