Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LETTER FROM ALICE, by IRIS JAMIESON



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LETTER FROM ALICE, by                    
First Line: Dear mom / today, I found god!
Last Line: He's a methodist!
Subject(s): Christmas; Nativity, The


Dear Mom:

Today, I found God!
You know how I've looked for him?
For so long . . . In so many places . . .
In churches of every denomination
I've knelt, searching for him;
I've hunted him at the firesides of friends;
I've watched upon the hills at midnight,
I've listened beside the rivers at evening;
Barefooted, I've trudged the sands at dawn;
I've walked bareheaded in the rain
Lifted my face to the snows,
Held out my arms to the wind --
But never did I feel him near me.
I searched with hope at first,
Then fear, and lately, Mom,
With mocking laughter.
Others found him; why could not I?
And now, I have!
This very day!
Upon the street, just at noon,
Amid the clamor and confusion
And hurry and heat.
How strange . . .
He was standing
With Kenny, Mom!
He had on riding boots,
And the sun
Made his hair look almost red,
And his eyes were blue -- and glad --
And when Kenny said,
"This is Alice,"
He took my hand
In both his gentle ones
That were as brown
And as hard as Kenny's
And said, with a little catch
In his beautiful, beautiful voice,
"Why, Alice, I was beginning
To think you'd never find me!"
Then, I knew!
Oh, Mom, I knew! . . .
Is that what
You've always meant
When you said,
"God is Love"?
Is it, Mom?
Sort of like you always told us
That Santa Claus
Is the Spirit of Christmas?
That way, Mom?
You're wonderful.
And please, may I bring him home
For the holidays?
And Oh, Mom!
You were right!
He's a Methodist!





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