Poetry

         Born in the Night
I was a babe meant for the night.
I'm wond'ring if the sun gave light
That rainy and that dreary morn,
That awful day that I was born?

No neighbors stopped by on that day,
No friend or kin passed by that way,
For fear that they might see what lay
There on that bed of straw and hay.

I was the weakest kid in town.
I'd never wear a beauty crown.
Wisdom would have no part in me
And prudence I would never see.

My life was quarantined by night.
I braced the dark, the day I'd fight
‘Till darkness reached my very soul
And, spreading, took complete control.

A crowd or empty room ‘twas one,
No one noticed when I was gone.
My path on earth was without aim.
Was life and death for me the same?

The cold and cruel pernicious night
Like thick black clouds had reached its height;
My darkened soul it marked for death,
That's when you came who bore life breath.

Your words were not the words of man.
What distance did my darkness span?
It sunk and touched the blackest hell,
And so, its myst'ries who can tell?

In this great night my soul was found
And my eternal view was bound
To live in its black fields and roam
And find in its dark realms a home.

But then your words, that heav'nly light,
Shined forth in my dismal dark blight,
Midst the darkness I saw my plight,
And my faint heart was seized with fright.

As my soul sunk down into doom,
Surrounded by darkness and gloom,
Your beaming hand reached out to me,
Your heart poured out with entreaty.

I had not planned to take your hand,
Your love I could not comprehend;
I was by man unloved, unsought,
"I wish he'd die"-they must've thought;

And so, why should God's Son love me?
I was too low for the earthly,
But welcomed by the heavenly?
I doubted this could ever be.

You said you knew my lot too well
Because you were Emanuel,
Incarnate spotless holiness,
Living with men who were amiss.

Your shining light attract mankind,
But light to night is so unkind
That yours were their malicious hate
And this you knew would be your fate.

Though king, on earth, you knew not wealth,
This path for you brought pain and death.
In spite of this you came gladly,
For this is how you would find me.

My head was bowed while tears poured out,
Your living word conquered my doubt,
And in your hand I saw love's mark,
That moment you dispelled the dark.

My trembling hand was now stretched forth,
I seized your hand for all it's worth,
You pulled me gently out of night
And clothed me with a robe most white.

My physiognomy's not changed.
I know nothing can be arranged
To help me win man's acceptance.
What care I for mankind's distance.

My fair Emanuel is near,
His presence to me is so dear.
In Him I find all that I need.
My expectation He'll exceed.