The Sheep and the Shepherds

Was there something of an issue there, With a wondering sheep being lost, Just at that time when the shepherds, Were on the way to rejoice and toast? I rather think that, most definitely, The shepherds would have respected, The four, five or even six days in which, The family would have there resided. If they had just set off for the inn, And their brother had whistled them back, To search for a lost, lonely sheep, To quantify their merchandise, their sack. They would’ve come back and returned, No problem, without any hesitation, Because you don’t loose a sheep very often, And they had a few more days for visitation. There was a long while yet, plenty of time, To visit and celebrate the baby at the inn, ‘Cos they adhered to the early gossip, Listened to the early dew, the first of the din. People were talking about the family, About the child of an unmarried twosome, But the shepherds understood relationships, Behaviour, intentions and the banging drum. They were very much working class people, Townsmen of commerce and of pubs, Who understood free love when it occurred, And they didn’t wish on the family subs. So they took a lamb along with them, To reassure that they knew their job, the animals, Kept them fit and healthy, very well, Showed that there were no external variables. They gave them a lamb and were thanked, ‘Cos I presume it was killed by them and dead, Ready to cut up, debone, cook and eat, To let the family feel fully satisfied instead. The innkeeper wasn’t too friendly or polite, Didn’t let the parents buy any meals or have drink, Hid them out of the way in the animals’ stable, Such that they had to drink the cow’s milk. And the butcher wasn’t open to them, Would not exchange their money, ‘Cos the whole town considered them, Nothing intelligent or funny. But the shepherds sufficed and prevailed, To change that deformation and liberate, The town’s people from derision and tradition, And let the family function, integrate. Their hand in family’s life, the Christmas story, Was vital beyond definition and description, ’Cos they determined the living conditions, Of the baby of remedial initiation. They also influenced life back home, In Nazareth where they had abode and lived, Where the people followed the shepherds, Where the rebellion was not relived.