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The Nativity
Mary was in the kitchen
for her Joe was coming to tea,
she'd just put the tarts in the oven
then guess who she happened to see?
A man all in white in the doorway
it gave her quite a big shock,
not only had he wings on his shoulders
but was dressed in a long flowing frock
"Sorry for the fright," he said nicely,
"but I've got a message for you,
and to be in time for Christmas
there's things God wants you to do.
I'm the Archangel Gabriel
A sort of a foreman up there
You can say that God is the chairman
And I sort of carry His chair.
Now I've a delicate mission
so please don't go all crazy and wild
but God in His infinite wisdom,
wants you to carry His child."
Now, Mary said, "Wow and then Golly."
and "What on earth will my Joseph say?"
Gabriel said, "God knows, so I'll ask him.
and without even a rug to kneel on,
got down and started to pray.
It only took him a minute
The answer came quick as a wink
"It'll be a shock to start off with,
but then he'll be real tickled pink"
"O.k, "said our Mary,
"providing I'm having a son."
"That's all taken care of," he answered.
Then with a flash the angel was gone.
At first Joseph took it quite badly
but then he started to care
for God told him his son could do woodwork
and all his hard work he could share.
Then when Mary started expanding
and her tummy had started to swell
You should here all the tongues wagging
"Look at her and no Wedding bells – Well!"
they treated her with derision
as behind their curtains they'd watch
and pass on the opposite pavement
in case it was something they'd catch
Then Winter swiftly approaching
and Mary now really quite large
Election time was looming
and to register was the imperative charge.
Now it wasn't a village hall jobby,
to Bethlehem they both had to go
and so did a million others
and that's what started their woe.
For they tried every inn, pub and guesthouse
(Hotels were too much to afford)
but every room was taken
there was nowhere for them to board.
but one kindly inn keeper
seeing Mary and her uncomfortable state
said "there's my stable here Mary,
you can have it at only half rate.
So there on the straw with the animals
that night baby Jesus was born
and Joseph put him in a manger
to sleep out the night until morn.
Now something miraculous happened
on a hillside watching their sheep
sat a whole bunch of shepherds
their night watch they'd started to keep.
An angel came down saying you're needed.
Go to town and there you will find
your saviour asleep in a manger,
The Messiah, the one who is kind.
and just as he finished speaking
a triumphant noise was heard
for the whole heavenly host started singing
as if to strengthen his word.
So off they all went in a hurry
and found him there in the hay
and they all knelt down by his manger
and praised him all night and next day.
Another miraculous happening
was a star that appeared in the sky
and some very wise men who saw it
decided to discover just why.
It had to be something important
for such a wonderful thing
so they discussed and chatted for ages
till they realised they'd got a new king.
Then saddling their camels and horses
they set out the very next day
and went by way of Jerusalem
to ask king Herod the way.
Now Herod was very jealous
he said "Another king, what rot."
and greed soon overtook him
he'd got many thoughts for his kingdom
but to share it was one he'd not got.
So out to all of his armies
he sent a royal decree
that every male babe should be slaughtered
and all male toddlers less than three
(it was two actually but that doesn't rhyme)
In the meantime the wise men did travel
till the star did miraculously stop
and there beneath its light beams was a stable
with an inn perched right on the top.
So inside they all trampled
giving pressy's to the babe there inside
then left by a different route homewards
from Herod they wanted to hide
Now Herod's soldier lads went searching
they covered the whole countryside
but God had spoken to Mary and Joe
and told them that they'd got to hide.
So they loaded their poor old donkey
and went to the desert so sparse
making Herod's slaughtering tactics
a terrible, hideous farce.
Then travelling right out to Egypt
they waited for Herod's demise
then homeward to Nazareth trotted
to fulfil all the known prophecies
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