grazing, oblivious
that the sky was burning,
that this world was ending.
above
each icy fleck
grew and warmed,
and exploded into this conflagration of heaven.
nor did they seem to hear,
grazing, deaf
to the melody cascading
over the grass and ceders.
a Song
that seemed so very old
and ancient,
but News to us
Christmas is this emptying News
that God has come to us
released now from heaven
into the warmth
of a young girl's womb
vitally yoked
to her heartbeat and life
sharing the scandal
and embarrassment of flesh
this is the covenant of love
sealed in ligament and bone
Glory
to God in the Highest.
Glory
here in straw and blood
News now to us
the air is cool on the skinand fresher out here
away from the animals
the mother of God is sleeping now
and we are tired but happy
the baby sleeps too
he nursed well
latching on
after only a bit of trouble
The stars seem so close
Joseph thinks of angels again
and dreams
Thin cobwebs
and the spiders of doubt
brushed away when she wept in pain
with water and blood
Joseph has become our witness
this was no nocturnal promise or sleepy visitation
to be cross-examined upon awakening that morning
for the News is common news
of the birth of a son
and his mother.