Finding this carol ethnocentric (i.e., whenever I've checked the temperature, at Christmas, in Bethlehem, it's been about 15 degrees celsius) is one of the reasons I penned this...

Poem 230 of 230: AS GOSPELLERS HAVE SAID/CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY

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As gospellers have said,
Beneath signalling skies,
On land dusty to tread,
A trough in a stable
Was the strawy first-bed
Of a divine baby -
The forgiving Godhead.

A season for new hope -
There then, and here now;
The yuletide of goodwill -
There then, and here now.

In respect of this chance,
Beneath bright or dark skies,
Faith's the star that we glance
Attending Christ's churches
And trying to enhance,
With singing and ritual,
Our God-loving stance.

A...

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003