The Annunciation to the Shepherds
An angel found some shepherds
In the lambing pastures, not too far,
All keeping one eye out for wolves,
And one eye on that bright new star.
And the angel said:
“Behold !
Upon this night so cold,
I bring you tidings great with joy !
In David’s royal city, a saviour-son is born !
Go see – for swaddled and mangered,
Is a strangered, innocent boy,
A cheat of death,
Who takes his breath
So calmly on this bold, still morn.”
Some shepherds found an angel
In the lambing pastures, glowing gold,
And after all its urgings,
They sat and thought on what it told.
And the shepherds said:
“That’s nice,
But we must watch our precious ewes.
For all your holy light,
We cannot leave and risk to lose
A single suckling sheep tonight.
So go tell folk in Bethlehem –
Those townies love to be beguiled…
But we must keep our trusting lambs
As safe as any child.”
Rhyming Couplets 