On a cold, starry night,
Two young people travel
On a journey, their lives to discover
A man leads his donkey
To Bethlehem town
Her cargo, a soon-to-be Mother
With pain she’d looked back
As they left Nazareth
The hatred they’d shown had surprised her
When the people perceived
That the babe was conceived
Out of wedlock – they’d all ostracised her!
No room could be found
In King David’s home town
For the couple and their precious burden
As she cried out in pain
One man listened again calling out,
They both paused as they heard him…
“I have here a stable
It’s not much to see
But it’s warm and it’s dry and it’s free!”
Tired from their journey
The young aching Mother
Lay down in the hay to give birth
Such humble beginnings
For this newborn child
The King of all kings of the Earth!
Surrounded by livestock
And sacrifice lambs
The unblemished Lamb he was born
In a cows feeding trough
He made his first bed
His clothes made of rags that were torn
Shepherds came to visit He
Whom Angels had adored
And silently they worshipped Him,
The tiny infant Lord
Whilst still a toddler
Wise men came from Persian lands afar
Recounting their incredible tale
A miraculous guiding star!
Dictator King, Herod the Great
Explodes with rage and fear
A newborn King to take his throne
Lived in a town so near!?
A massacre, the despot decrees
Consumed so by his hatred
Each child of two years old or less
Must be exterminated!
Awoken by a warning dream
The father wakes his family
Heads south to Egypt to escape,
Political refugees.
This humble Jesus, born so low
Our own hearts does unveil…
Reminds us all to love once again
This familiar Nativity tale.
P J Deakin 2015 ©
Breath on Paper 