by Pavel Chichikov
They slept in their beds
Their white breath showng
In the town on the mountain
And all was still
On the grey sierra
Dark and darker
The moonless night
The starlight glowing
On the stone and stucco
And the young hares
Stopped their hopping
The owls blinked
And clenched their perches
The bear shook his muzzle and groaned
On the stony hillside
Beside the sheepfold
And the wildcat licked her side
In the village slept
The wife and the husband
The first child and the old woman
Turned in their beds
Starlight's shadows
Are meek and mild
A Christ child's light
And then she woke
And looked to the door
The space beneath it
A thin crack where
The night came in
A thinner shadow
Of milk and starlight
And she heard on the hillside
Cymbals, bells
And the moan of the shawm
What is the brightening
A dawnless dawn
Though the cocks still sleep
And do not crow
Nor the beasts complain
Of stretched udders
Or the sheep make signs
On the brittle straw
Brighter and brighter
The color of gold
A precious yellow
Deeper and deeper –
She goes to the door
Shawl on her shoulders
As the light deepens
To a golden paten
That holds the sacred flesh
She opens the door
And the street is bright
As the noontime sun
Gold and warm
God's good light
And brave youths walking
Before and behind
A great lady
A beautiful one
With a Child in her arms
So glorious a crown
A tower of gold
Windows of ivory
And the child is dressed
In a robe of noon
Embroidered with lilies
And leaves of emerald
And this is true
The youths and maidens
Graciously smiling
Gravely joyful
Youths and patriarchs
Palm leaves waving
The court of heaven
Nobles of peace
Worthies of joy
All on a road
Of depthless light
Deeper than day
The way of forever
Of grace and glory
Till they pass
They leave as she watches
From the open doorway
And night returns
The hills draw down
Again to the shadows
As her husband turns
In his moonless dream
And the baby stirs
In the creche of her womb
Visit Pavel's Website at The Poetry of Pavel Chichikov.
