<H2>** *Merry Christmas* to *All!* **</H2>
<H3>Simeon had a chilling prophecy for Mary.</H3>

He had waited all his life to see Messiah born, and now holds the baby in his arms. After speaking words of praise, he also utters some dark sayings.

<H3>This *Christmas Haiku* bespeaks coming gloom...</H3>

![Many will rise and fall...](https://source.unsplash.com/6Yo_30FTrm4)
<H6>Many will rise and fall...<BR> Photo courtesy of [Jace Grandinetti](https://unsplash.com/@jacegrandinetti) and [http://unsplash.com](http://unsplash.com)</H6>

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**NOTE:** This is one in a series; you can find the complete series of Christmas haiku here:
[**🌲The Christmas Story in Ten Haiku🌲**](https://steemit.com/christmas/@creatr/the-christmas-story-in-ten-haiku)
<H3>🕎🕯This *Christmas Haiku* is from [**Luke 2:33-35**](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A33-35&version=ESV)🕯🕎</H3>

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<center>
<H2>Many to rise, fall...<BR>A mother's heart is pierced;<BR>ominous future.</H2>
</center>

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![Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword](https://source.unsplash.com/P8LZaU52NME)
<H6>Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword<BR> Photo courtesy of [Ricardo Cruz](https://unsplash.com/@mavrick) and [http://unsplash.com](http://unsplash.com)</H6>

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Please visit [@lakshmi](https://steemit.com/poetry/@lakshmi/what-is-a-haiku-haiku-challenge) and [@ericvancewalton](https://steemit.com/poetry/@ericvancewalton/impromptu-haiku-vol-6-holiday-edition-plus-book-giveaway) who provided me with that "extra push" to write haiku.

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For a topical index to many of my other interesting articles, click the animated GIF below:

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