Twas the night Jesus came and all through the town,
Not a person would guess The Messiah came down.
The earth gave no warning to speak God’s intent
But this magical night I would never forget.

The streets were all busy with strangers from far;
No time to hear singing or see the bright star.
As my young friends and I kept our watch o’er the flock
We had no idea we’d soon get a shock.

When out of the darkness there rose such a light,
I sprang from the hilltop to gaze at the sight.
An angel came shining as bright as noon-day,
More fearsome and brilliant than I’ve words to say.

At first he said, softly, “There’s no need to fear.”
Which I found hard to do since this host first appeared,
But he said, “Be of Joy! I bring you great news!
Your Savior is born, there is no time to lose.”

“This babe wrapped in cloths has no crib for his bed,
But rests his sweet head in a feed-trough instead.”
And then other angels, more than I can know,
Rejoiced through the dark with their songs and their glow.

Like millions of stars dancing down to the earth,
They lifted their voices in praise of his birth-
Singing, “Glory to God.” Through the stillness of night
“and peace to all men,” then they flew out of sight.

It didn’t take long to break out of our shock.
We ran down the hill leaving our field and flock,
And found the sweet baby inside a damp cave,
But could this be Christ – the whole world to save?

The donkeys and horses had left a foul smell.
The straw was all muddy, the manger as well.
But everything was as the angel had said,
A babe wrapped in cloths in a crude manger bed.

Then I know – it was clear. Where else would he be?
The Teacher and Healer to make the blind see.
The Savior who’d carry the sins of us all,
Where else would show love than an old cattle stall?

This baby, The Christ, would clean up all our messes.
He’d take on our curses and give us His blessings.
So as I adored Him, God’s Son, the true Light,
God seemed to be whisp’ring to all a “good night”

copyright 2009 Pepper D. Basham