Poetry # 3 Serenade to Baby Jesus: Shafts of Wholeness Cause Oneness

By Fr. Gino Vanzillota

SERENADE TO BABY JESUS
From heaven to us, you came,
abandoning your eternal kingdom
and became a sacrificial lamb
to pay our hefty ransom.
Chill and biting frost
you endured in human experience,
for love is first
in a show of enduring patience.
John the Baptist, the voice,
manifested your earthly presence:
He is our best choice,
of his preaching was this essence.
The good news dispelled fears.
To the shepherds, an angel said:
The glory of the Lord shone amid tears,
as in Isaiah is read.
Joy in the world to all;
today Christ the Lord is born.
He will save you from the fall,
God, in the garden, had sworn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479724987

Fr. Gino Vanzillota

Born in Italy November 1929, from the beginning I had a dream to be a priest one day. Sincere devotion in my family nursed that vision. Parents 'example of piety urged me on. Training and scholastic curriculum took me to Rome. In the Eternal City I attended college, philosophy course and theology studies at the "Angelicum" University staffed by International Dominican Professors. Ordained a priest, I started the ministry as associate Pastor at a local parish. Appointed Director of a minor seminary, I gained teaching experience and learning sociology and psychology by practice. Asked if I would volunteer my service in the far away USA, I grabbed the chance with joy. To learn foreign languages and to know different cultures have become my second dream. I flew to New York in June, '67 and commuted for Los Angeles. The hard work of a large parish, All Saints, took all my time and energy. Here I really became aware that to serve is a noble profession. I tried my best without counting the cost. Exonerated by the office of pastor at my request, I remained here as "associate". In the spare time, I followed an old hobby, poetry. I felt comfortable with this secondary activity. From the year 2005 to this day, I printed a couple of books of poetry before this one. And my poetic vein is not exhausted. As a big brother I dare to say: younger generation, try harder until the end. Life is action.

Book preview

SERENADE TO BABY JESUS

From heaven to us, you came,

abandoning your eternal kingdom

and became a sacrificial lamb

to pay our hefty ransom.

Chill and biting frost

you endured in human experience,

for love is first

in a show of enduring patience.

John the Baptist, the voice,

manifested your earthly presence:

He is our best choice,

of his preaching was this essence.

The good news dispelled fears.

To the shepherds, an angel said:

The glory of the Lord shone amid tears,

as in Isaiah is read.

Joy in the world to all;

today Christ the Lord is born.

He will save you from the fall,

God, in the garden, had sworn.

Our ancestors’ lunacy

infected the whole universe.

After a long expectancy,

a child made a reverse.

Directions are given anew

to find the lost Eden.

Humility is the cue

to get the job done.

Melodious, soft harp

and high-pitched trumpet

make the message sharp:

plow your ways flat.

A two-pointed way, the best,

angels clearly know:

"Glory to God in the highest

and love to neighbors show."

In haste, the shepherds went,

and in a manger, they adored the infant.

Of love, they followed the scent

as in God, their trust was constant.

Joy! Joy! Joy!

angels happily sang.

Your savior is born today;

forever he raised your rank.

Joy to the world!

The Lord is here!

For God is good.

Let’s him hear!

The world can now rejoice;

to earth has come peace.

We can lift our face;

we are no longer on lease.

Heaven and earth, exult!

He has appeared as the morning star.

Away has he taken our fault

and removed the guilty scar.

Heaven and nature,

after centuries of expectations,

have sealed our future.

We are his without inhibitions.

Led by a singing rooster,

chickens cock-a-doodle-do

on order by the master:

Salvation is due.

Cantor of early dawn

hit the high note;

the reign of darkness is gone.

This is evil’s last night.

Christmas Day rose in splendor.

Our life is flooded in light.

Our hearts burn in pure ardor.

All is blessed in sight.

Nightingales, start the concert.

Wake those who are late to rise,

those who are lazy put to work.

Tell young and old the truth to face.

A humble donkey proved

nature to have a role.

Still young, unmoved,

he answered the call.

An ox, his unexpected match.

Both peacefully teamed

the torn relations to patch,

and again, for peace we dreamed.

Mary, mother yet virgin,

inviolate you remain:

untouched by sin,

new graces you gain.

Joseph, loving provider

for the family you care.

Of human stock, the sire,

a divine plan you share.

A sheep and her tender lamb,

the senior and junior cadet,

friendship with all claim

and form an uneven duet.

Sleep in heavenly peace

as we from routine pause.

La, la-la, la-la,

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in heaven

and on earth,

we are now even.

You are our breath.

The first Christmas present

was for us in a manger.

Not incense or gold, lucent,

but a divinity shared.

For you, we prepare a room,

warmed by our love

whenever you come.

We return what to us you gave.

Come and with us stay.

Truth, life, and way,

we will do what you say.

Christmas makes our day.

The best things in life are free,

really free for you and me.

That is wonderfully true,

if we say to him, Let it be.

Do you hear what I hear?

Do you see what I see?

At midnight calm and clear,

the truth appeared like A-B-C.

Babe Jesus, two stars

lit up in your eyes

as sign of love’s scars

to shine on your face.

Mary ripped the blue of the sky

and stretched it to our land.

No more our race is shy

since humbly, she took her stand.

Joseph, the worker,

sanctified labor.

A profound thinker,

he played good neighbor.

What an extraordinary trio we have!

Divinity wed humanity

in a bond of pure love

so that our joy can reach eternity.

A marriage in heaven was made

when Mary, generated without sin,

the law of God Creator obeyed

and of Jesus became kin.

The search started to find

a companion to the mother

and to child a protector of a kind.

Joseph was to be called father.

He landed the job

for he was chaste.

The occasion he did grab,

and a pact was sealed fast.

Of ethereal blue,

God made a drape,

Mary, to glorify you

and in divinity wrap.

You changed evil

through good deeds.

Pushed out the devil

and filled our needs.

At your smile, enchanting,

Babe Jesus, thorns become roses,

briars into flower garden commuting.

Vengeance, its power loses.

I see and cannot believe:

you came from heaven!

Am I worth your love?

Of my dignity, you are leaven.

As an infant, you didn’t talk—

our language, I mean to say.

But you never a lesson took,

ruling the world from first day.

It’s a great delight

for all created things

to have you in sight.

A new song the world sings.

A manger, far from posh,

is all we offer.

What you bring is lush:

for us, you want to suffer.

Resplendent in your eyes,

you mirror God’s image.

I am lit by the