{"id":3524,"date":"2012-12-18T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2012-12-18T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/?p=3524"},"modified":"2016-01-07T15:05:47","modified_gmt":"2016-01-07T15:05:47","slug":"code-ode-5-a-christmas-code-ode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cvm.org.uk\/blog\/friends-of-cvm\/code-ode-5-a-christmas-code-ode\/","title":{"rendered":"Code Ode 5 – A Christmas Code Ode"},"content":{"rendered":"

Read this:<\/strong> Luke ch 2 v 1-16.<\/p>\n

Recite this, out loud.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Outsiders.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

At dead of midnight,
\nIn the dark stillness, deep silence,
\nSave the odd bleating
\nOf a sheep,
\nWe, the outsiders,
\nDistrusted, discounted;
\nWe snatched a fleeting
\nHour of sleep.<\/p>\n

I was the one awake.
\nI was the watchman, the first man
\nWon by the glory
\nOf that light,
\nCutting through darkness
\nCross class and society.
\nScum tell the story
\nOf that night;<\/p>\n

Perfumed by sheep muck,
\nPersons unpleasant, us shepherds.
\nUp pops Joe Angel,
\n(Like they do!)
\nWe\u2019re all up, terrified;
\nFirst thing he says to us,
\n\u201c You\u2019re in no danger;
\nLike, stay cool!\u201d<\/p>\n

Says he\u2019s got good news;
\nHim who\u2019s expected, who\u2019s earmarked;
\nRescues the nation,
\nBorn today,
\nMaster of everyone,
\nDown in the village.
\nWe of low station
\nGet first say.<\/p>\n

After the soloist,
\nThen comes the chorus; it floors us.
\nMillions, whole armies
\nPack the sky.
\n\u2018Singing\u2019s\u2019 too small a word\u2014
\nMind blowing, heart wrending.
\nYou\u2019ll think we\u2019re barmy
\nBut we cried.<\/p>\n

One giant air-show
\nDone just for us few, us shepherds,
\nLefty and Skin\u2019ead,
\nMe and Zeke.
\nWhile I\u2019m still puzzling,
\nThey say \u201cLet\u2019s suss it and
\n\u2018Stead of being tin\u2019eads,
\nTake a peek.\u201d<\/p>\n

Down in the village
\nIn the dark stillness, deep silence,
\nSave the odd bleating
\nOf a sheep,
\nPerfumed by sheep muck,
\nIn with the cattle stuck,
\nHe snatched a fleeting
\nHour of sleep.<\/p>\n

Down in the village,
\nIn the dark stillness, deep silence,
\nMy eyes grow wider
\nAs I see,
\nStuffed in a feeding trough,
\nWrapped in old strips of cloth,
\nHim\u2014an outsider?
\nCan it be?<\/p>\n

<\/div>