Emmanuel

The road—how it wrung the nerves! Not so much in body—in heat and hardship— As those thoughts... It's impossible to calm them! Thoughts—like the stings of hundreds of bees... Thoughts—flowed like turbid Nile... Oh, how much changed since then... ...Though good people came to help— Gave shelter for their suffering bodies.

He wiped the road dust from his feet... She made a bed of straw... The donkey already slept, collapsed from exhaustion... Fog rolled through the valleys of fields... ...And suddenly a cry split the night in two! A cry of agony, of birthing convulsions! And the cry of life—innocent, unconscious. And a flash that lit up the sky!

The cold gleam of distant stars Could not overcome the darkness of night... Yet there was a stable, and in the stable—two, Who found strength to stay together. Over the peaceful sleep of Judean cities and villages Rose a star that became their guide— Over that stable where two had hidden, Where Emmanuel became their third.

But it seemed that wings were lost, That he already thought to let her go: Is this how children are born? He knew it wasn't, though he was no elder... A golden ox chewed straw, When shepherds ran in... O divine light! From their words came desire to rejoice And go forward through the fire of trials!

He recalled his doubt like a cowl, And the angel's strange words in a dream... She—fears that pierced like pins, And those words that Gabriel spoke... O blessed salt of a mother's tears, How you heal all wounds and pain! A child—in a manger, as on a throne, Which means: God is with us, Emmanuel.