Jesus slept in a cardboard box.
The star was stuck on a stick.
Two wise men carried gold and myrrh
'cos the frankincense king was off sick.
The shepherds all wore teatowels,
with stripes and checks and cats.
And Joseph stood in the corner
slowly unplaiting her plaits.

Three sheep with blackened noses
sat sucking their cloven feet,
while Mary wrestled with yards of cloth
as she perched on her plastic seat.

A troupe of tinselled angels
stood huddled in the wings,
where quietly flapping teachers
tied granny knots in strings.

The church filled up with parents,
and eyes filled up with tears.
Some shook with silent laughter;
with pride, with hopes and fears.

"Fear not!" squeaked Angel Gabriel,
"I bring good news today!"
And a hush fell over the stable
when our class did The Play.

Glenys Adams
St. John's CE Primary School, Waterloo, Liveri