Poem for Today: The Birth and Adoration of Christ

I
The angel comes to bring the news
Of the Christ child’s virgin birth;
Poor shepherds in the starlit fields
Are the first to hear on Earth.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

Though at first they gaze in fear
It quickly turns to joy,
They marvel at the angelic choir
And leave to find the boy.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

‘In David’s town’, the angel said,
that’s where the Christ child lay,
You’ll find Him wrapped in cloths,
In a manger filled with hay.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

To Bethlehem they went,
To the stable rough and bare,
And on their knees they worshipped
The Saviour lying there.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

They told the wondrous story
Of all they’d seen that night,
Of the choir of heavenly angels,
Of the glory of God’s light.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

All who heard them wondered
At the words the shepherds spoke.
Mary smiled at the infant Christ,
Now cradled in her cloak.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

The shepherds homeward sped,
Returning to their sheep,
Praising Almighty God,
Whilst the infant child did sleep.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

II
Scripture had foretold the birth
Of a ruler, who would bring
Peace on Earth to all men;
Of Christ, the shepherd king.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

Then Herod, with a secret plan,
Sent the Magi on their way:
He bid them go and find the place
Where the infant king did lay.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

Having listened to the king,
They travelled on their journey far,
To find where the child lay
They followed the shining star.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

The star stopped, shining bright
Above the house with the infant boy,
And when the Magi saw it
They praised with exceeding joy.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

Inside the house they saw Him
As in Mary’s arms he lay:
Their gifts they placed before Him,
Then left for their homeward way.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

God had warned them in a dream
To say nothing to the king,
So they returned a different way
And told him not a thing.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!

Then an angel appeared to Joseph
Saying to Egypt they all must run,
Fulfilling the words of the prophet,
‘Out of Egypt did I call My Son.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth among men!
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, December 2005