The shepherd who missed Christmas

It was a cold and dreary night when the shepherd woke,

Alone, neither man nor sheep, there was naught but smoke.

He cursed at everything available at hand and made for the door

Hurried tracks, shoddy packing up and the planning was poor.

"What would have scared the Moses out of them..."

He wondered and something above him shone like a gem.

"You... are late... aren't you now...the Lord's been born"

The shepherd looked like somebody had popped his corn.

"I'm a free man...I don't abide no lady or lord !" said he.

The voice coughed irritably.

"Your compatriots arrived to be witness to the birth of a God."

Eyes weary he barely caught the last word.

"Most poorly organised and publicised then"

The voice had had enough of the world of men.

"All these gods, they come and they go..."

"With millions and millions in tow..."

"This one will be different...this one is God for mankind"

The shepherd huffed," What god is difficult for a commoner to find"

The voice said," He is going to preach love and peace..."

"Really! who milks the sheep eh? who makes the cheese?"

"I don't want no lord, show me a God who can find his sheep!"

The voice was a symbol of silence allowing these words to seep.

"In due time he will look for you, leaving aside all the rest."

The shepherd snorted, winked and gestured in jest.

"Though you have missed him, he will seek you."

"When he does, I shall prepare him good bread and some stew!"

The light was now dimming, this seemed a lost cause.

He fired a last one,"Best let the big G find me or old Moss"

A feeble voice now spoke, "This is heaven we are talking about."

"Green pastures and a bright sunshine, now go away and don't shout."

The light was gone and the shepherd was all alone.

In the distance many stars now brightly shone.

The shepherd inhaled in deeply the sacred night,

And was glad of this sacred sight.

He was of simple mind and of simple need,

Good food, laughter and sleep and no better life to lead.

~mithrandir

"But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"
Mark Twain