'Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the town
St. Joseph was searching,
Walking up roads and down.

Our Lady was waiting,
So meek and so mild.
Her husband was seeking
A place for the Child.

The children were nestled,
Each snug in his bed,
Their parents wouldn't bother.
"There's no room," they said.

When even the innkeeper
Sent them away,
St. Joseph was wond'ring
Just where they would stay.

He heard of a cave
In the side of a hill.
"Let's go there," said Mary,
"It's silent and still."

The moon on the breast
Of the new-fallen snow
Made a pathway of light
For their tired feet to go.

And there in the cave
In a cradle of hay,
The Savior was born
On that first Christmas Day.

The Father was watching
In Heaven above.
He sent for His angels,
His courtiers of love.

More rapid than eagles
God's bright angels came,
Rejoicing and eager,
As each heard his name.

"Come Powers. Come Cherubim.
Come Virtues and Raphael.
Come Thrones and Dominions.
Come Michael and Gabriel."

"Now fly to the earth
Where My poor people live.
Announce the glad tidings
My Son comes to give.

The shepherds were watching
Their flocks on this night.
They saw in the heavens
An unearthly light.

The angels assured them
They had nothing to fear.
"It's Christmas!" they said. "The Savior is here."

The shepherds then hastened
And knelt on the floor
When Mary invited
Them in to adore.

He was swaddled in bands
From His head to His feet.
And never had shepherds
Seen a baby so sweet.

He spoke not a word,
But the shepherds all knew
He was telling them secrets
And blessing them too.

Then softly they left Him,
The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy
On that first Christmas Day.

Many heard them exclaim,
As they walked up the hill,
"Glory to God in the Highest!
Peace to men of good will!"

--- {Author unknown}

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001

Answers

-- (_@_._), December 24, 2001.

Thanks John. I enjoyed this poem but the only question I have is the cave. I thought it was a stable.

-- Glenn (glenn@excite.com), December 25, 2001.

Thanks, Glenn.
What I remember reading is that some folks believe that a hillside cave was used as a stable. I don't think that anyone knows for sure (except some people who are in heaven)!
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 26, 2001.

Personally, the more important thing is not where Christ was born, but THAT He was born...cave or stable. Pondering the blessing of God becoming one of us to save us...well, the details seem unimportant to me. I am reminded of my pastor's Easter Sunday homily. The begining of Christ as man, laid in what was certainly an uncomfortable hay- filled manger, was the dawn of the same day of his even more uncomfortable sacrifce for us, those He loves, as sunset of his death. The image of the hay pricking His crown as He lay after His birth as a foreshadowing of His crown of thorns 33 years laters.

-- Melissa (holy_rhodes@earthlink.net), December 30, 2001.