I Weep For Thee, O Bethlehem

On a cold, wintry Christmas night bright light on a manger shone to fall softly upon a mother mild cradling her little baby child. Three wise men followed the stars to thy beckoning door, Bethlehem, bringing frankincense and myrrhs to pay homage to the king. Thy name is music to mankind's ears proclaiming forth freedom and hope, sweet like a chorus by heaven's choir vanishing darkness and fear. Yet, two thousand years thereafter, what became of thee, Bethlehem? now enclosed within high fences, inside your captive people keeping. On those cruel barriers are graffiti imploring "Make love, not walls"; as I weep for thee, O Bethlehem, where has thy promise gone? Note: Bethlehem is a Palestinian-populated city in the West Bank, administered by the Palestinian Authority. It is now mostly inhabited by Arab Muslims and many Arab Christians have left the city and immigrated abroad due to the harsh living conditions. The city is surrounded by high concrete walls and no one gets in or out without clearance from the Israeli Army guarding its checkpoint.