Apparently, we have a poet among us! A reader named Stephen Kraynak, of Columbus, Ohio, sent in the poem below after reading last week's story (which, as you know by now, got lots of feedback... including a debate among biblical scholars). I'm tempted to wonder where Kraynak found the time to do this, but the poem is just too fantastic. It even rhymes:
Twas a Fortnight Before Christmas
Twas a fortnight before Christmas
And all through the land,
Many readers were stirring with
Newsweek's 12.15.08 edition in hand.
There on the front cover
To see in plain manner,
A cross on a Bible
With a rainbow flag banner.
"The Religious Case for Gay Marriage"
The lead story reads.
Tis about fairness and justice,
Which everyone needs.
"Our Mutual Joy,"
Writes editor Miller.
Gay couples in photos,
Are part of this thriller.
She says the Bible, the Torah
The Arrogance of Nations,
And Marriage, a History
Discuss human relations.
"For richer, for poorer
In sickness and health,"
In committed relations
The community finds wealth.
"There's no marriage in heaven,"
In Matthew it's written.
So why not get married
When by Cupid we're smitten?
"To love, honor and cherish,"
These words do we vow.
We are all God's children
This means all of us now.
The Bible's been used
To confine us, restrict us,
With selected quotations
From law-full Leviticus.
She says picking and choosing
A quote here and there,
Condone bigotry and hatred.
Both are unfair.
She writes, Jonathan and David,
Between them was passion,
Had deep love for each other,
And "one spirit" they fashioned.
The story of Jesus
She notes in this space,
Was one of acceptance
And his total embrace.
Surely Mary and Joseph,
All Christians and Jews,
Seek justice for all,
And share this good news!
Meacham writes from his desk
About marriage relations:
Many states once had laws
Banning miscegenation.
Is gender that different
Than one's class or race,
Excluding some only,
From freedom's embrace?
Today things are different
In CT. and Mass.,
They grant everyone rights
No matter sex, race or class.
So here, now I ponder
The other forty-eight.
When will you renounce
Your ignorance and hate?
With this on my mind,
I was gone in a flash.
Grabbed my own car keys,
And all my spare cash.
What better to give
As a present this year,
Than this Newsweek article
To spread hope and good cheer?
I bought them for gifts,
Twas my true intention.
Thank you, Newsweek,
For challenging social convention.
To drug stores and newsstands
I hurried this date,
For more copies of Newsweek,
Before twas too late.
I'll give them away
All wrapped up with bows,
To friends, neighbors - my family,
Must include those.
Every little bit helps.
(I learned this in school.)
"Due unto others."
Is the known golden rule.
And lest we forget
Our civil rights past,
Let's review U.S. history
So our freedoms will last.
Thurgood Marshall, his case
Against school segregation,
Argued the Fourteenth Amendment
Grants equal protection.
On May seventeenth,
Nineteen fifty-four,
Chief Justice Warren read this decision
From The Supreme Court's floor:
"1896's Plessy v. Ferguson
Hereby is overturned."
Thus, our long racist bridges
Were destroyed and burned.
The nine Supreme Justices
Each in his chair,
Ruled: "Separate but Equal"
is inherently unfair.
Here's an example
For this, our great nation.
Unjust laws are oft overturned
By the next generation.
So, this principle's now established
In Brown vs. Board,
Which promises equality
For civil accord.
So here we do have it
The law of the land.
We just need apply it
To the issue at hand.
"Separate but equal."
It is. Or it isn't.
Can't have it both ways.
This just won't be silent.
But now we have Roberts,
Scalia, Alito and Thomas.
Conservative justice
Eroding this promise.
To counteract this,
If the truth be told.
We need more informed citizens,
Stating it clearly and bold:
"Life, liberty and happiness
Is the law of our land."
And for some this includes
A gold wedding band.
Today, is our day
To be fair and just.
Read our Constitution
And do what we must.
On Meacham, on Miller
On Newsweek et al.
Help promote freedom
Of marriage for all.
Someday prejudice and hatred
Surely shall cease.
Till then, seek out justice
And we will have peace.
Rev. King, he has told us
His vision he sends:
"The arc of history is long,"
But toward justice it bends
Two thousand and nine
Is almost at hand.
We must come together
Across our vast land.
Now, here's the great question
Here on Earth and above:
Which of us, truly,
Can legislate - love?
As the true spirit of Christmas
Settles into our houses.
Let's rethink and enrich marriage
To include same sex spouses.
I wrote this today
Without malice or spite.
To tell all fellow Americans:
It's time. Let's do what's right.
Who wants to challenge Kraynak? More poems, I say!
