Margaret Brown was a faithful and committed member of St Mary’s Church, who devoted much of her time to the service of others in the community. She left behind her two collections of poems, some of which were used in church in her lifetime, including one set to music as a hymn. These Christmas poems by her have also been included in Christmas services in the years following her death.
There was a crying in a cattle shed
Dark before morn;
And Mary’s bed
Was cattle straw, and rough, and full of pain,
And Christ was born.
(Alleluia, Christ was born.)
There was a singing in the winter night
Near Bethlehem;
And angels bright
Brought to the shepherds tidings of great joy
to comfort them
(Alleluia, to comfort them.)
There was a beating of swift camels’ feet
From lands afar,
And as was meet
The earthly kings rode to salute their king
Under the star.
(Alleluia, under the star.)
Still all unconscious lay the weary world
Asleep in sin:
A small hand curled
Clasped in the mother’s, held creation safe
All heaven within.
(Alleluia, all heaven within.)
Joseph, my husband, I thought I’d make my bed
Safely in my own home, not a cattle shed.
Mary my beloved, Caesar’s subjects we
Here in Bethlehem by his decree.
Joseph my husband, I am so afraid —
Would the Son of David be so lowly laid?
I believe the angel: was it really true?
Mary my beloved, I dreamed too.
Joseph my husband, is my son a king?
Did I just imagine all that wondrous thing?
Mary my beloved, fast as they were able
Did not shepherds come to the stable?
Joseph my husband, help me in my need:
Just a little body, just a mouth to feed,
Just a human baby, God’s own son is he?
Mary my beloved, wait and see.
Joseph my husband, hold me very tight,
I have strong forebodings of that strangest night.
Who will watch and guard him lest he die?
Mary my beloved, God and I.
Put aside the tinsel streamers,
Leave the gifts beneath the tree;
Gather round the world-redeemer’s
Humble, poor nativity.
Man and wife whom desperation
Drove to seek a cattle shed,
Wrapped the Son, the Incarnation,
Warmly in a manger bed.
Who were shown the heavens’ glory?
Only shepherds saw the sight;
Only magi told the story
Of the star that rose that night.
Yet the light shines high and holy
As each year we hail the birth
Of the baby, born so lowly,
Who is Lord of heaven and earth.