Outside all was silent, but for

singing from the starry sky: “Christ is

risen!” I thought I must see him

and now I realize this is it.

Soldier:

It’s him.

Joseph:

It’s him. You have such perfect faith,

I might end up being a believer

myself.

Mary:

myself. Aren’t you always a child,

this despite your years and many

lessons learned? Do you want your beard

laughing at you and brow’s wrinkles

to be ashamed of you? Don’t talk

so carelessly.

Joseph:

so carelessly. I’ll bear that in mind.

After all, it is vain of me

to believe such a thing of this child,

like it was the future Messiah.

Young Girl:

Why is such an enchanted glow

shining around the face of him?

From where beats this lovely shaft of light?

Or do my eyes play tricks on me?

Old Man:

No, no, I see the glow now too.

If the whole room’s not bright with it,

I’m blinded by an evil mirage.

Soldier:

Yes, I see it too, and all can see,

and all mankind to come will find

this hour precious. Will he not draw

everyone to him, who does not yet

talk, but will one day speak of things

divine? I am his prisoner

and now regret all my past deeds.

I marched through Galilee, Egypt,

Syria. I left my regiment

to greet this child. What a deep joy

transfixes me before his image.

I never trembled when in danger,

me, the one who hurt so many.

I have never shown emotion

when they cried out that I spare them.

Now what do I feel? Do I dream?

Am I no longer the same man?

Am I now another person,

Someone higher?

Old Man:

Someone higher? No, one more gentle,

and of course someone higher too.

As you revere this young little creature,

I, an old man, shall do so too.

Have I, for as long as I’ve lived,

seen a more beautiful moment?

Have I ever known, as the whole world

must by now, such a joyous event,

such great hope? Someday it will be said

this was the time when love and faith

were born.

Joseph:

were born. Don’t you go on and on,

almost like a boy or well-nigh

more. What is all this spirit for

tonight?

Mary:

tonight? Likely they are all either

very mad or simply too overjoyed.

Could it be that God speaks from their mouths?

Joseph:

Would I know? I gave it no thought.

I’ve hardly seen anything odd

in these occurrences, not till

they said a miracle lives here.

That has got me shaking my head.

You know that I am, if anything,

a sensible man, someone who’s

sober and thinks practically.

This childlike appearance, I myself

didn’t take it all too much to heart.

“Well, it’s a kid like any other.

Hopefully, he’ll turn out just fine.”