The golden Christmas candle cheers –
Yet sheds its silent, molten tears;
The holly cordially adorns –
Yet bares those stark and hostile thorns;
The royal Babe of Virgin bride –
Is crowned with thorns, and crucified…
And Christmas cheer, however bright,
Is set in sombre shades of night;
Behind the front of festive pride
Each Christmas has a darker side…

Our mounds of food cannot conceal
The scandalous Third World beggar’s meal;
Our luxuries cannot obscure
The starved and shrivelled, hopeless poor;
Our season's glow of warm goodwill
Is mocked by millions trained to kill…

O Word made flesh, the one true Light,
Shine forth afresh in our dark night!
Teach us your caring, sharing way
Till the wide world dawns to Christmas Day!

© Arnold Kellett, from ‘Kellett’s Christmas’