Hound of Heaven Hymns - prose and song

Poetry list, Christmas

prose and song

when you’re minding
sheep you look to the
skies for weather when
you’re busy surviving
the weather and the
dark you listen for
fear and danger when
you’re on a hillside
in Augustus’ days you
hope for a better world
and an Israel whose
glory is free in God’s
favour
and then this glory
shone amidst the
bleating and the night’s
chill the snatched sleep
and the cursing of
poverty a radiance
of sound and light
outshining any and
every dawn and
sunset a piercing
terrifying shining
and a symphony of
praise then a voice
to us don’t be afraid
for here is joy and
salvation down the
hill a newborn child
swaddled in a manger
here is the sign and
saviour longed and
waited gloria in
excelsis et in terra
still shaking and
stunned the bleating
night asks do we go
as one we say yes
and rush to find the
truth and the gift in
one tiny form held
and loved by Mary
and Joseph a new
worship and world
has come upon us
and everybody must
know back to the
flocks and the fields
the skies the gateway
to the eternal
birth