O little town of Baltimore,
How still we see thee lie.
The cars have left the JFX
For Santa Claus is nigh.
The Inner Harbor is being renewed
And Cross Keys shops are swell
The Domino sign is digital now,
Shining beyond the old Point Fells.
The Hon Fest is under new management
And ArtScape this year was a bust,
But B’more folks are a testament
That resiliency is always a must.
We’ve got Hopkins and Morgan and Coppin State,
Loyola and MICA, you see!
There’s Goucher, and Towson, and our Lady on Charles
And Maryland of Baltimore C.
The fathers have swagged the churches,
The children learned all their parts.
The mother and baby and manger
Have nestled their way in our hearts.
The Christmas pageant shepherds
Have whiskers drawn with paint.
When asked if reindeer really fly,
A third grader told me “They cain’t.”
And yet the magic kindled here
Of love and life transformed
Is real, if we will make it so,
For every child who’s born.
“Fear not” the angel said again
To any who would listen:
“Wake up! Reach out! Connect!” she says,
“There’s healing for our divisions.”
For in our dark streets shineth
An everlasting light
And eyes that see what could possibly be:
Dawning days after long troubled nights.
There’s ReBuild and there’s GEDCO
And our partners who are CARES,
Johnston Square Elementary where we go to read books,
Govans School and our first-grader pairs.
And the Day School sure is growing,
With leaps that follow bounds,
Early childhood development is spreading roots
Across town and into our grounds.
And meanwhile, have you noticed
There’s some football that will play on the morrow?
Ravens’ Jackson is at the ready,
So there’s no more time for sorrow.
There’s the Snapper and the Holder
And we need them every time.
Make every ball real steady
For Tucker’s toe to shine.
Give Henry, Flowers, and Bateman good health,
This silent night we pray:
Fast legs, strong arms, steady hands and stealth
‘neath the tree on Christmas Day!
And what should we talk about besides the game,
Round the table and opening gifts?
No politics please—maybe sports? Not the news!
Beyonce? Justin Bieber? Taylor Swift?
Now hark the herald angels sing
And tell the good news loud:
A baby’s born who is a king
To mother Mary mild.
The poor are fed, the prisoners freed,
God in our flesh to dwell,
Mountains lowed, valleys raised through Abraham’s seed
J.C., Emmanuel.
So happy Christmas, foe and friend,
Heavy burdens are being made light.
There’s nothing that Love cannot mend,
On this most blessed night.