Shepherds - Christian poetry

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Shepherds

One strange but wonderful night
Sky-sundering angel light
Outpoured such glory from the Lord
The shepherds shuddered with fright.
The wingèd bringer of news implored:
“Fear not! My tidings strike the chord
For voices to sing God's birth
And bring rejoicing to earth:

In the town of David today,
A Savior is found, whom they
Have made the barest manger bed,
Your Christ and Lord to obey.”
Great troupes of angels grouped overhead;
“Glorify God on high!” they said,
“On earth let his peace now rest
On these One Worthy has blessed.”

That night such things were concealed
From kings with their might to wield,
From scholars searching scrolls unrolled,
From rich men reaping their yield,
But humble herdsmen would yet behold
Our Shepherd Lord adored of old . . .
We, Jesus, would seek you too,
As meek and pleasing to you.

by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.
[ Annunciation | Incarnation | Shepherds | Epiphany | Flight | Presentation ]
Shepherds Notes:

Cf. Lk 2, 15–20. The intended meter is as follows:

But note that in the second stanza the first line begins with a dactyl instead of an iamb; the fifth line shifts the dactyl to the fourth foot; and the sixth line replaces the first iamb with a trochee.

9. The town of David: Bethlehem.

16. One Worthy: God. Cf. Rv 4, 11: O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power!

17–20. The angels reveal the Good News, not to the powerful, wise, and wealthy, but to the lowly, ignorant, and poor.

22. Our Shepherd Lord: cf. Jn 10, 1–30, on Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

[ Carry Each Other's Burdens | Rejoice in Hope | Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice | Owe No Debt To Anyone | Accept Each Other | If One Member Suffers | Earthen Vessels | Forgive As The Lord Has Forgiven You | Be An Example To Believers | Keep Yourself Pure ]
[ Supper | Gethsemane | Betrayal | Denial | Ironies | Wounds | Surrender | Tomb | Doubt | Ascension | Christ ]
This poem is © Copyright 2002 by Stephen Wentworth Arndt, Ph.D.

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