The Holy Child is an Elephant

Ganesh,  the beloved son, suckled

at Parvati’s breast,  suffered death

and by a miracle (so it came to pass)

was gloriously  resurrected.

In this story there is no stable,

star, shepherds, nor magi

but there is Christmas magic,

belief, rejoicing, dancing and drumming

and oh come let us adore

far into the night, feasting

on  sel roti, coconut and jaggery.

Parvati felt the flash from  Shiva’s  eye,

saw  his arm blur, heard a whoosh

of air,  a slicing sound, saw Ganesh,

the innocent,   beheaded — dead

as a dashain goat.  His head vanished.

So it came to pass, the holy trinity

was formed:  Shiva and Parvati,  delicious

friction of lingam and yoni, love’s

constant recreation; and Ganesh,

reborn, chubby elephant-headed god.

Oh come let us adore the resurrected

god of grace, restored now

to his mother’s warm embrace,

his father’s high regard.