Child of the Star (a Christmastide poem by an orthodox rebel)

"And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin." I John 3:5

"Into the depths and the deep degrees.
Into the flesh with its feeble knees.
From Light of lights into darkest stain.
From divine delights to a world of pain.

Into the coal came the burning spark.
Into the night came a thund'ring heart.
From out of the crib and the cattle smell,
Child of the star walked into our hell.

Shining star with it growing light.
Shepherd's hill where they felt the fright.
The angel's song did yet surmise
This night of nights was the dark's demise.

Little cry from the manger hay.
Thirty years is all that He could stay.
The darkest day where the pain was long
Where the cross crescendoed the angel's song.

Into the pits of our despair.
Into the teeth of the demon's lair.
Into the wound only He could heal.
Into the hearts only He could steal.

Out of the depths and the deep degrees.
Still in the flesh without feeble knees.
We are His and He is ours.
Sons of God and children of the Star."

-Jon Vowell (c) 2010