Night Thoughts

by Michael Collings

I can’t recall ever being happy,

Truly happy,

Till tonight.

And even stranger—this is a happiness

Quite apart from money,

Inns, or other business.

A “spiritual feeling,” I should say,

If I were “spiritual.”

I think this must be how

Those young folks feel.

I’ve never seen a pair

So much in love—

Or quite so tired.

They must have searched for hours

To find a room.

A room!

In crowded Bethlehem!

His voice was low and cracked,

Dried by the desert heat:

“Please, have you a room?

We have asked in all of Bethlehem.

But all is full.

My wife is tired.

Have you anything?”

I almost told him no!

Almost.

And would have, too,

Had I not seen her face.

If ever I behold an angel,

It will look like her:

Sweet,

Loving,

Pure.

And I could tell

Her time was near

To bear a child.

I wish I could have helped them more.

A stable is not much.

Oh, it is clean;

The straw is sweet and fresh.

But still, it’s just a stable.

I wish …

It is a lovely night,

Not a sound.

The stars are out in glory.

Strange …

There’s one I’ve never seen before.

It’s a bright one, too.

I could almost read

Just by its light.

(If I could read, that is.)

I wonder why I’ve never seen that star before?

It seems as if it were just lit;

A brilliant lantern in the sky,

Above my stable roof.

A brilliant lantern in the sky

To tell mankind

Of some great deed.

A wondrous star.

What’s that?

A sound …

A newborn baby’s cry.