Christmas

The lighted window shows the room

so warm and softly glowing,

The tree so tall with twinkling lights

And all the presents showing.

While just outside a starving cat

Stands shivering in the cold,

And down the street a stray dog limps,

So tired and sick and old.

 

The baby monkey in the lab

Lets out a cry of fear.

The thing he thought was mother

Shot out quills when he drew near.

The car speeds by, the puppy cries

And drags her broken leg.

The beaver in the leghold trap

Lifts pain-filled eyes that beg.

 

How can we speak of peace on earth

And know these things are so,

And say they don't concern us

And we ought to let them go?

How can we think we have the right

To torture needlessly,

When all the time we know so well

It shouldn't have to be.

 

Come join with us at Christmas time

And pledge ourselves anew.

They need our help so badly,

There's so much that we can do.

Don't turn your back upon their pain

Because it's hard to see.

They have no other place to turn,

They've only you and me.

 

(Guila Manchester)