Poor Jesus
at midnight mass, the pope proclaimed
“God is poor, let charity be reborn”
but doesn’t he already know
the savior of which he speaks
already sleeps on the street
inside a tattered tent’s folds
with all he owns in a bundle
rolled in a restless sleeping bag
where his nightmares are wrapped
in blankets of apathy and cold shoulders
easy prey and moments away
from robbery or the next police raid
though this Jesus has no manger
this Jesus has no home
this Christ has no disciples
this Jesus walks alone
socially crucified, we keep him pinned
and wriggling on a non-profit cross
but should pride be the only line drawn
to keep him from accepting
shelter from a stranger
a hot meal, a swig of wine or more?
some believe him to be
the embodiment of God as man
offering communions of flesh and blood
that he now needs to turn into food
to move to belly from helping hand
if Jesus were here among the poor
would you care where he sleeps
as long as it’s under someone else’s door?
for if he were here among us
he’d certainly live on the street
begging, ragged, dirty, scraggly
scrounging for something to eat
probably not as much concerned
with spreading the holy word
as in finding someplace warm to be
and if we saw his miracles
performed before our very eyes
do you think we would believe
or would we be avoiding his glance
barely touching his hand
to pass a few coins of charity
because if we get too close
we just might uncover the limits
of our own humanity?
if Jesus returns to us
it won’t be with a trumpet’s roar
so how will he ever be recognized
if he’s living with the homeless and poor?
Gregory (Greg) Pond was born in Brooklyn to Panamanian parents, has written five books of poetry and is a member of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade. He is host of 3rd Saturday Poetry in Chinatown, facilitates Poetically Speaking, a weekly conference-call program for seniors and has curated events for Queer Rebels. He has read at the World Aids Day commemoration and currently resides in San Francisco.
