Christmas
T’was Christmas night and all was still
But for a light beyond the hill,
The only sound from far away
Was a lone sheep’s, whose plaintive bray
Broke the still silence of the night,
Pierced eerily by that bright light,
Which stopped its course over the barn,
And preened itself in the small tarn
That gurgled by an ancient elm
Guarding the plain and all its realm.
The night was cold ; a north wind blew,
A few dead leaves, all over flew,
Hither and dither on the plain
And mingled playfully with rain
That started falling gently down
Making the tarn look up and frown ;
The light broke out into a jig
And danced around with leaf and twig,
A graceful sight, a lovely scene,
All fresh and pastoral and green.
Deep from the barn, a lullaby
Rose up to soothe a baby’s cry,
The sky lit up with hues of red,
And from above the Thunder said :
“I am your Lord, I’m Jehovah,
God of the people of Judah,
A king, my son, was born this day,
And is now resting in the hay,
For in a manger He was born
Of maiden Mary, all forlorn ;
That infant I have sent to you
To make you whole and to renew
My pledge to wipe away the sin
Of Adam, Cain and all their kin,
The star above will show you where
He lies between an ox and mare ;
He is your God made man on earth,
From David’s clan, I chose His birth.
Go forth, my people and adore
That son of man that Mary bore.”
The voice of Thunder, and the light
Faded back deep into the night.
The pitter patter of the rain,
The plaintive bray came back again,
The star above was shining bright
Over the barn bathed in its light,
And from the dark, with candles lit
Came shepherds bearing gifts, to sit
And gaze in wonder and in awe
At that young king covered with straw,
With ass and ox, his only court,
No guards, no heralds and no fort.
Wise men came forth to kneel and say :
“He is the true Light and the Way,
For hope and love for all mankind.
Let us be brothers and be kind
