An Eastern staple 

A starlit night

When God’s eternal light shone

In the darkness of a cheerless world

A divine child 

Born in human form

Like all the others

As though he were the others.

Reared in poverty

Lived in humility

Died in ignominy 

Rose in victory

God’s only Son

With humankind one

Sharing an abundant life with all the others

As though he were the others.

In a world past caring

Sin stained

Power ridden

Poverty stricken.

Christ’s coming means sharing

God’s redeeming grace

Revealed in an infant’s face with all the others

As though he were the others.

A Christmas congregation

Sings in expectation

“Peace on earth and mercy mild”

When and where?

In a broken home in Katutura?

In a strife-scarred Tseiblaagte?

In an impoverished 

Area 7?

Only when we do to others 

As though we were the others.

A new year has dawned

A new thinking dominates

Pledges for betterment 

To do for others 

As though we were the others.