Carol night

Carol Night.

Candles glow amidst the tumult;

everywhere there is noise and movement

wonderful noise, wonderful movement.

People joining voices

sharing food and blankets

And the Children, the children

they are just children?

They cry and scream,

laugh and tumble.

They are not angels are they?

One girl child, with glowing, stubby candle,

sits amidst the din;

stunned or dazzled,

amazed or distracted?

She sits,

an image of stillness

with a stare at times

almost vacant,

or perhaps focussed

on the infinite?

She moves at last

to stand before her mother

and exclaims with pure awe,

“ Mummy, they’re just like stars!”

then moves back

to her place of watching.

Her mother,

sensing more than most

the ‘other’ in her daughter’s words

weeps tears of joy and wonder

at the beauty in the child.

 G Bannon