piccadilly kim

(originally from december 2005;
adapted from luke 2:1-20 and matthew 2:1-12)

"Hear ye, oh hear ye, oh ye, hear, hear, hear,"
called Caesar Augustus to folk everywhere
"The time is coming, it’s coming so fast,
When you must to the town of your fathers at last
Return double-quick, oh so quick you must go,
Even if on the way you get stuck in the snow!"
"Oh no," thought Joseph, "this is not good!
Not good, oh not good, oh so very not good!
For Mary, my pregnant wife-soon-to-be,
Is expecting a baby – it’s a sure guarantee! –
And this baby will come very soon, don’t you see?"
Poor Joseph, poor Joseph, oh what could he do?
For Caesar was the sort of man – well, one who
Commanded respect wherever he went,
Even if his wishes left one quite bent
Out of shape, or in a rough way;
His heart was a size or two small, you might say.

But Joseph, he picked up, he picked up and went
To the town Bethlehem, where he had been sent
By this royal decree
With Mary, his pregnant wife-soon-to-be.
But when they arrived – oh but when they arrived! –
They found, oh so sadly, that they’d been denied
Any place they could stay – oh how glum, glum, glum, glum,
They did feel – for where on this earth could their new baby come?
But then at last – at so very long last –
They came to a stable, and sat down and crashed.

And then came the Baby, the Jesus, the Christ
Who arrived on this earth to bring us new life.

Then the angels, they shouted, they sang and they cheered,
For they were so joyful that He had appeared
Among humankind and they went to proclaim
This event oh so gladsome for the sick and the lame
And the troubled and sad and the hurt and the weary –
Their message was great and particularly cheery.
To some shepherds they came and told them the news
(which applied to the Gentiles and to the Jews!):
"A Savior has come – now go to him quick! –
In a manger you’ll find him, bundled up plenty thick!"
So off to seek him, the shepherds, they went,
As from heavenly messengers they had been sent.
And they came and they saw Him, these shepherds, they did
Then passed on the news on to many a man, lady and kid.

But that was not all, oh, no, not quite yet!
For the wise men – the Magi – we still have not met.
These men saw a star in the east late one night
(And it was very, especially bright)
So they came to find the One it foretold
And traversed to Bethlehem, a town ancient and old.
There they met with King Herod and ventured to ask
If he could assist in their difficult task
Of finding the Christ, the One Who they knew
Had been promised to come (see Micah five-two).
Now Herod was jealous of the new baby King
But told the Magi: "His praise must I sing!
So tell me exactly where he can be found,
That I may worship on His so-sacred ground."
But off went the Magi, off in great haste,
For they had no minutes of time more to waste.
And they followed the star this last step of the way
Where it stopped at the place where Jesus, He lay.
And they fell down and worshipped Him right where they were,
Then gave Him fine gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
When finally they left to go back to their lands,
They purposely avoided Herod’s terrible hands –
For a dream had warned them that he was no dear
And the thought of seeing him filled them with fear.

Now that is the story, of Jesus, the Christ.
He came to this earth, and brought us new life.