One Dark Night Poem by Gert Strydom

I

One dark night
the sheep are restless
and not able to sleep,
but there’s no wolf
or lion or other wild animal
trying to catch them
and there’s a strange light
hanging high with the other starts.

It’s as if the whole field around us
are waiting on something mystic to happen
and all the wild animals are awake
and here and there
lightning bolts are hitting white blue
out of an open sky.

II

While this is happening
we sit with anxiety around
a bright hot campfire
on which we put more logs
time after time
and gaze into the night
and wonder what is coming?

Suddenly a mighty being appears
surrounded by blinding white light
and it’s clear that he comes
from the almighty God
and we are speechless with fear
and scared to be in the presence
of a holy being.

III

l’Envoi
His voice is clear in pitch and sound
and sounds more pure
than bells ringing
and he tells of a child
that is born,
a Son,
being called:

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father
and Prince of Peace
and that He is the Christ and the Messiah.

In Bethlehem, just over the hill
we will find Him
wrapped in cloth in a manger
between farm animals.

[References: Luke 2: 8-1, Isaiah 9: 6.]