Midnight Across The City Poem by Steve Gregory

It came upon the midnight clear
Or so the story goes,
In the Royal city bathed in light
From Market stalls and shops so bright
To Ebay's deals and Online meals
They say the Internet is right.
So money changes electronically and
Cash disappears mysteriously
Upon that Xmas list and children squeal
And car horns reel in rage at winter nights!

Still through the airwaves they come,
Those Eastender sorrows and Corrie Blues
To bring apparent joy to countless homes!
And in the morning rush to work
The conversation stalls, until the lonely
Voice remarks of Rovers demise and
Queen Vics fall from grace!
And Xmas is saved again as TV bosses
Rub their hands at ratings won
And next year's series done!

Yet with the woes of TV strife
Many lives are set alight in fictional
Truths that memory's blot from
Reality's world wide web and leave
The Body lost in space. And Xmas comes
To a glorious end with Santa's grotty
And Rudolph's red nose switched off.
And the Queen speaks but no one hears,
But Celebrity gets stuck in the chimney
And everyone cheers!

And you beneath life's crushing load
Ask what the season really means?
You know that Xmas stands for something
Better and that santa ain't the reason.
It came upon your brain, now clear that
Glorious story, old, of stable bare and
Manger there and a baby wrapped in rags!
Now you see the shepherds stare,
And hear the Angel chorus of
Glory Hallelujah, Emmanuel is born!

With peaceful wings unfurled
You hear the heavenly song and wonder.
Why does your heart beat so strong
And why are tears now flowing from eyes
That see the Baby, now a Man upon a tree,
Rough hewn and Cross shaped, memory
Comes flooding back.
Of Christmas and the birth of a Saviour
Of Mankind and the Star of David
Over a stable near Bethlehem Square!

The world has suffered long and hard
And suffers still as men turn about and
Ignore the King of kings.Yet you know
In your heart that Christmas is the time
Let's celebrate Christ's Birth!
And though through two thousand years of wrong
We can run from Him, He will allow us
To return and give Him all the songs
That Angels sing - Glory Hallelujah!
Behold our King!

And as with prophet bards of old
We'll sing the wondrous story and join the
Angel throng and celebrate the season
With good reason. And rivers of Praise will
Flow from earth to Heaven,
And back again! And the stars will shine
Brighter tonight as we join the glorious song
And Christ will be back on the Throne
And the Victory will be heard from Heaven
And Earth will sing - Glory, Glory, Hosanna in the Highest!

Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the Angels sing!
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendours fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the Angels sing.
For Christ is living in Victory!