Read this: Luke ch 2 v 1-16.

Recite this, out loud.

The Outsiders.

At dead of midnight,
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
Save the odd bleating
Of a sheep,
We, the outsiders,
Distrusted, discounted;
We snatched a fleeting
Hour of sleep.

I was the one awake.
I was the watchman, the first man
Won by the glory
Of that light,
Cutting through darkness
Cross class and society.
Scum tell the story
Of that night;

Perfumed by sheep muck,
Persons unpleasant, us shepherds.
Up pops Joe Angel,
(Like they do!)
We’re all up, terrified;
First thing he says to us,
“ You’re in no danger;
Like, stay cool!”

Says he’s got good news;
Him who’s expected, who’s earmarked;
Rescues the nation,
Born today,
Master of everyone,
Down in the village.
We of low station
Get first say.

After the soloist,
Then comes the chorus; it floors us.
Millions, whole armies
Pack the sky.
‘Singing’s’ too small a word—
Mind blowing, heart wrending.
You’ll think we’re barmy
But we cried.

One giant air-show
Done just for us few, us shepherds,
Lefty and Skin’ead,
Me and Zeke.
While I’m still puzzling,
They say “Let’s suss it and
‘Stead of being tin’eads,
Take a peek.”

Down in the village
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
Save the odd bleating
Of a sheep,
Perfumed by sheep muck,
In with the cattle stuck,
He snatched a fleeting
Hour of sleep.

Down in the village,
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
My eyes grow wider
As I see,
Stuffed in a feeding trough,
Wrapped in old strips of cloth,
Him—an outsider?
Can it be?