Away in a Manger
"Momma, Momma, I can't see!" I whined.
Up in the hayloft,
Where the wind hums a rhyme,
Momma cat and her kittens,
Hid from mankind.
"Hush my dear kitten." Momma cat did reply,
"I'll tell you a story,
"Of when the angels did fly."
Tabby's ears perked to listen,
And even I lifted my head with a sigh.
"Once long ago,
"When I was your age,"
"When soft, icy snow,"
"Fell down to the Earth,"
"And tickled my toes."
I yawned, I was bored, could you blame me I ask,
But Momma continued slowly at first,
"There was no sunlight in which to bask,"
"My Momma told us to all stick together,"
"Then Mitten did gasp."
"'But, Momma, look at that right there!'"
"And we all turned around,"
"A woman with long hair"
"Had lain on the ground."
"Her face was so fair,"
"And soon a new baby"
"Lay gasping for air."
I tried to fall asleep, but maybe, just maybe,
Maybe Momma was telling the truth,
Maybe there really could have been a baby.
"Did he cry?" Tabby was as excited as ever.
"No, Little Tabby, he never did cry."
"He was silent and clever."
"How can a baby be clever and silent?"
"Well, it is the truth, just ask Missy Heather."
I looked through a crack in the floorboard below,
And saw Missy Heather,
The oldest cow's whole face seemed to glow.
"Your Mother tells truths, never doubt that,"
"The Christ Child's birth was on a day of white snow."
I didn't know what snow was, but I didn't mind,
Momma continued,
With her tale of her time.
I sat up and tried hard to listen,
I tried to relate hers to a story of mine.
"And that woman I spoke of," Momma smiled,
"Was a great gift of Heaven,"
"The babe, the Christ Child,"
"And his man-father Joseph,"
Received many gifts, so high they were piled!
I nodded, and imagined the Child's face now,
But all I could picture,
Was Heaven's great cloud.
"And a drummer boy drummed,"
"And after that, he looked mighty proud"
Momma paused for a breath of wintery wind,
"And soon after that,"
"He played all over again."
"And Mary did smile,"
"And the Baby did grin."
"After twelve days they left," She said with a sigh.
"Gone with the wind,"
Missy Heather replied.
Momma nodded, "True, very true."
"Now sleep my dear kittens, 'til morning is nigh."