Our view: Christmas story

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: And they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came in haste, and found Mary, Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

-- Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Wind

I sled along the windy blue and held tight

across the black -- star to tree and

not yet finding the last cabin

not yet finding the last wild

wooded cabin somewhere filed away among

the spruce and silence.

Christmas day is Christmas night

in the north country:

birch trees creak, night falls electric, the sun

a refugee to the bold white decrees of the moon:

a dark so deep only paw prints appear.

Then perhaps a vagrant chirp, a single lonely

solitary howl, a soft fall of very cold snow.

The north country has no directions

but always one last cabin,

one last slender limber of smoke in that

wilderness of Christmas hope,

one last one to bend

Those secrets among the trees!

And so it was again to that last cabin

with its climb of Christmas smoke

reached not so straight through the winter air.

Christmas is the bend in the smoke. It's always there.

-- Steve Sherman

The poem "Christmas Wind" by a former Daily News writer, is reprinted here today in a renewal of a Daily News tradition.