.
To miss the mark, to lose my way,
to choose the dark, on Christmas Day.
No star I see, no Virgin Birth.
No joy for me, no peace on earth.
But for a wretch like me He came,
to fetch me from my sin and shame.
So by His manger, now I stand.
My finger in His tiny hand.
.
.
Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet.
Thank you, Margaret, for your insightful comments. The poem was written some years back, after my first contact with the…
Thank you doubly, Roy, first for your attention to this most remarkable saint for whom I'm unworthy to speak. Second…
The early part here well represents the experience of the maze where it is impossible to find one's way in…
The "Civil War" is a contradiction of terms, and I am not a fan of reenactments.
So many grammatical inversions! A risk many of us are loath to take, because they fuddle clarity. The last line…
A very pleasing little jingle for Christmas Day and, while quite reverent, short enough not to interfere too seriously with the consumption of mince pies.
I like mince pie, Peter. Are the ones YOU eat made with real venison?
THE JERICHO CHANT
Brothers and Sisters, all Americans! We need Peace!
Chant the Jericho chant!(3)
Is it possible to prevent the Second Civil War in America?
Yes, with God’s help everything is possible!(3)
Should we wait for the Second Coming of Christ?
No, it could be to late!(3)
Could we do, anything in our strength, as Christians?
Yes, we could! Yes, we would!(3)
The evildoers are scared by the inescapable indictments!
They look for divine intervention!
(3)
Let’s have a civil conversation and a true reconsaliation!
Let’s give them a second chance!(3)
Pardon and forgive them entirely! Convert and Baptise them, as Jesus would do for eternity!(3)
God himself promiced to sanctify us wholly through his Spirit, in Christ to attain true Peace!
1 Thessal.5:23 (3)
Peace is possible!
Say, “No, on the red dragon hegemony!”
Say, “Yes, on Christ and on Democracy!” (3)
We are not going to kill each other for the betterment of the evil devil!
We are going to be blessed by God! (3)
No, on the pandemic and death!
Yes, on the eternal life and love!
Let it be Peace on Earth, Amen and Alleluia!(3)
Brothers and sisters, all Americans, we need Peace!
Chant the Jericho chant!(3)
Succinct, evocative and complete. Well done!
Joe, the path you describe is the one we must all take to arrive at the manger—the cross—and the empty tomb. Your verse is beautiful and its closing image is one that will linger in my heart.
To me, breathtaking, Joe! Thank you.
Precise and vigorous, with binding inner rhyme, at the beginning, loosening to softness at its end. An inevitable, concise journey to a tender destination. Lovely.
Beautiful, Joe. Merry Christmas!
Thank you all very much.
Merry Christmas!
Shows your sincere faith beautifully, Joe. Lovely poem~
A very nice poem ,Joe. Jaunty but concise; jocund but deadly serious. One of the cleanest, pared-to-the-bone poems I have read in a long time
Absolutely pierced me to my core!
I echo Damian Robin’s comment above! This poem sent me to my collections of Christmas verse to see if there is anything else so short, and so perfect. “A Wretch Like Me” is in a class by itself.
Again, thank you all very much.
These are wonderful comments and they touch me deeply.
Joe, this is a a lovely Christmas verse which proves that a minimum of words may have maximum impact.
I wish you all the best for the Christmas season.
There is so much embedded in four short couplets. Each contains another couplet- the first, light and darkness, the second and third, joy and peace and sin and shame, and the last, the choice made. Really beautiful and beautifully wrought.
Not sure how I missed this one. Marvelous.
I love the simplicity of this poem. I had not seen it until now.