I

Heard the thud caught the

corner-of-an-eye flutter

downwards to the deck

below window reflection

caused by insulation film.

Picturing fractured feathers

I blindly grasp at metaphor;

* "Deep in the forest

of distorted reality" and

** "Necessary illusions".

On the window pane

skin and down

record the impact of

deceptive reality on

nascent thrush endeavour.

II

Heard Sovereign address, sermon,

conjure up relationship

flowing from warm concerned

references to ‘family’ portraying

Commonwealth, Church

Might is right, big is better

Feel good about it

‘Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel’.

We are Family. Yeah right!

In the miasma of Christmas,

presents beneath tinsel draped tree

concern for each and all

celebration of heritage

the ring of . . . truth?

III

Jesus, gifted as Saviour

in the salutary sense of family

open to and welcoming of

the Spirit and all that follows,

is the Way, Truth and Life.

"Bethlehem" heralds birth

growth, sharing, giving

not the thud . . . from

linguistic contortion

and retail trumpery.

*Corporate i.e. Police culture during apartheid protests, as described by Ross Meurant

**Noam Chomsky