Plastic Baby Jesus

Plastic baby Jesus lying on the August lawn

The reason for the season but the season’s come and gone

The shepherds and the wise men waiting - at the back of the garage

With the oxen, sheep and reindeer and your plastic dad and mom

You should be with your parents sleeping on the artificial hay

In the faded xmas storage tote safely tucked away

Who will ever miss you if no one knows you’re gone

Plastic baby Jesus spending summer on the lawn

Mass produced in China then shipped across the sea

We picked you up at Walmart - black Friday, 1993

We have faithfully displayed you each December since

But this year could be different, we don’t know where you went

Two days after Christmas when decorations all come down

The manger tipped and out you slipped but you didn’t make a sound

We went about our business putting xmas things away

Little plastic baby Jesus soon to be considered - M I A

A moulded piece of plastic, the image of God’s Son

The way that I remember you is not what you’ve become

The sunlight bleached your brilliant colors, your golden halo almost white

I still don’t know how I missed you, lying in plain sight

The gardener saw you moving slightly in a gently passing breeze

He never would have found you had he not been on his knees

The mower or the neighbor kids could have kicked you to the curb

But plastic baby Jesus never said a word

Plastic baby Jesus back where he needs to stay

In the faded plastic xmas tote, safely tucked away

No, he doesn’t speak, he doesn’t feel

He never bleeds, he never heals

He holds no key to ancient prophecy

Hollow as a chocolate Easter bunny

Plastic baby Jesus

Empty - just like me