First Night, And A Full House (Poetry)

The cat slipped through the stable door
he’d seen a shadow flit
across the yard’s moonlighted space
and now he followed it

The mouse was quickly out of sight
behind a bale of straw
the cat stopped dead and blinked with shock
than gazed awhile in awe

A human baby newly born
was sleeping sweet and sound
nearby a donkey and a lamb
were kneeling on the ground

And through the rafters shone a star
that bathed them in its light
and voices singing soft yet clear
spread peace on Winter’s night

The cat stole closer — curious
the glowing child to see
his feline senses all alert
he crept respectfully

between the donkey and the lamb
and joined the vigil there
companionable as natures calmed
to settle down and share

the spectacle unfolding while
each waited patiently
as visitors came trooping in
to gaze adoringly

And it wasn’t long before old Jess
the innkeep’s faithful hound
came sniffing through the open door
and padded quietly round

to squeeze beside her foe — the cat
as though their enmity
was all forgotten in the hush
that held them wondrously

Two turtle doves flew down to rest
upon a rail and cooed
their own sweet carol for a king
a lullaby to soothe

as lamb and donkey, cat and dog
looked on a beggar came
peered in to greet the family
and ask the baby’s name

Kind Mary called him over and
gave him two coins of gold
she bade him share their modest roof
for winds blew bitter-cold

The beggar overwhelmed with joy
to be accepted there
it seemed a palace to his eyes —
a lodge beyond compare

Then came small children — ragged waifs
who shivered, thin and poor
they tiptoed shoeless, drawn like moths
to whisper by the door

So Joseph gently coaxed them through
to where the baby lay
content amongst the animals
and bedded warm with hay —

a scene so blissful and serene
it captured every heart
and all those present — man or beast
were glad to take their part

in this great play on its first night
before a fervent house
with rows of angels at the back
and front of stalls a mouse

For such a diverse audience
this earth had never seen
fur and feather cheek by jowl
the wealthy and the lean

High in the Gods the author sat
to measure His success
upon that stage now set alight
with hope and happiness

By word of mouth the message spread
script learnt by one and all
thus each year from that first night on
the whole world’s held in thrall