Poem: “How the Beast Keep Christmas” by Phyllis McGinley

At midnight’s stroke, in barn, in stall,
Kneel all the dumb folk.

Meekly bow, in reverence, then,
The silly hen, the horned cow,

For a breath’s space. And ass and ox
Makes, each, his box a kneeling place.

Even the dark forest peoples
Hear the steeple’s “Hark! Hark!”

And glory wheels through den and lair,
Beside the hare fox kneels,

Till all on earth of fur and feather
Praise together Christ’s birth,

The when and why can none recall,
Yet kneel all. And kneel I.