catapult magazine

Our Christmas Feast

At Church in Burundi

by Laurie Cutter

Handfuls of salt,
Bags of bitter lemon.
            Christmas arrives.

Sugar by tablespoons,
Strong milky chai.           
            Our Christmas feast.

Petals of frangipane,
Six-foot poinsettias.
            Christmas blooms.

Chants and drumming,           
Swaying in aisles,
            An African Christmas.

Old men with fly-whisks,
Babies held to the breast.
            The gifts of Christmas.