An Answered Longing

An Answered Longing

Years upon long years
Of men and ages past,
Waiting on the dawn,
When came our God at last

Like light to all the earth,
A trumpet call to break
The silence of all time,
Salvation in its wake.

“Hail thou Full of Grace!”
With terror in his hand
And hope upon his brow
The Messenger did stand.

Blinding beyond bright
And mighty more than thought,
Yet gentle in his words
He bade the Girl “Fear not!”

To that humble Virgin,
A question and a prayer,
And That which all men sought
She was asked to bear.

“Be it done,” she said,
And earth and Heaven met
As the Word Made Flesh
Dwelt in her, secret yet.

Creator not created
Humbled Himself for us
In His great wondrous love
Chose our saving thus.

And so it was that night –
A night there was no room –
That in a stable there
Born of the Virgin’s womb

Among modest livestock
And in that simple place
Was born the Child, the Savior
Of the whole human race.

Our Savior in our midst
Laid softly by Her side,
Placed inside a manger
Our sustenance would hide.

“Hosanna in the highest!”
The choirs of angels sang
And all of their rejoicing
Across the heavens rang.

They filled the dark of night
With brightness and with song
And bade the nearby shepherds
To rise and come along,

Invited them to worship,
And gladly to intone
In song and exaltation
Before the manger throne.

The stable was a palace,
For there was the one King.
Of more than earthly beauty
And wealth was His dwelling.

A little baby boy
With the shadow of a cross
Over his sweet head
To make up for our loss.

Love Incarnate who
Would save men by His blood
And break the bonds of debt
And earth with graces flood.

Sing Hosanna then!
For Him Who came to die
To free us from our sin
And redeem you and I.

 

Original Poetry