Twas the night before Christmas, and all up and down
there were bone-weary travelers in Bethlehem town.
The stern edict had gone out from Caesar himself,
each man should return now to pay from his wealth.
To their ancestors’ hometown they each must now go
to pay taxes and tribute – all men, high and low.
The descendants of David were gathering here
in the village of Bethlehem; rooms were quite dear.
It was late in the evening by light of the moon
when a man known as Joseph asked me for a room.
“I’m so sorry,” I told him, “My inn is so crammed
’tween the mats and the bedding you can’t lay a lamb.”
Then he mentioned his wife, said the room was for her,
and he asked me to help him, “I beg of you, sir.”
I told him I’d let all the rooms – even mine –
Then abruptly I started – the barn would do fine!
You’d have thought I had offered a fine, regal house.
He fashioned a place for her bed near the cows,
then led her to lie in the haphazard bed
and bundled his cloak to place under her head.
I walked down the path to my own crowded dwelling
but paused when I fancied a melody swelling.
“Not so,” I decided, and quickened my step.
“It’s that glow on their faces I cannot forget.”
While I stood at the doorway to gather my thoughts
and go into the inn filled with people and cots
something flashed in the sky then grew bright ’til it shone –
There! A brilliant new star lit the animals’ home.
Right there in the doorway, my soul filled with peace,
And I felt such a wonderful rush of relief.
I turned toward the hill and the manger aglow.
Such a radiance filled the whole valley below
where a small band of shepherds stood huddled in fear
as they stared toward the sky and the Being up there.
Now I never had seen here on earth or up high
any angels, but there was one up in the sky.
The glory of God filled the sky with bright light.
It seemed as I looked to be day and not night.
Then he said to the shepherds who quaked with their fear,
“Don’t be scared. I have great news that you’ll want to hear.
For not only to you but to all of the earth
I bring news of great joy in the form of a birth.
For the Christ child you wait for is born here tonight
and he lies in that barn where the star’s shining bright.
There his mother has wrapped him in pieces of cloth
and she’s laid him to sleep in a cow’s eating trough.”
In a flash appeared hundreds of angels with him
And the heavens were filled with the strains of a hymn:
“Now to God be the glory, on earth be my peace,
and may feelings of malice throughout the world cease.”
Just as quick as they’d come all those angels were gone
and the shepherds stood wondering ’til one said, “Come on.
Let’s go see what the angels have told us about –
come along, time’s a’wasting.” And he started out.
All the others soon followed to where the star shone,
after leaving the sheep in the valley alone.
They all came to my manger and stooped to go in
to the once humble place and the glory within.
There Joseph was standing by Mary, his wife,
who was stroking the child that first night of his life.
And the song of the angels again softly rang
as we knelt to the King, he whose birth they proclaimed.
Then I heard the dear mother in voice, oh, so slight,
“A glad CHRISTmas to all on this most holy night.”
