It was cold on Christmas Eve ,
I slept on the side of the road.

I drifted off in a dream
as the sounds of the traffic flowed .

I was dreaming I was in Heaven
before the angels fell,

See the arch angels and cherubs
I knew them all very well .

All things were being organized
for Jesus was on his way,

And very soon it was to be
the first ever Christmas day.

The angels had got their orders
for their work to do on earth,

Paul was telling some good shepherds
of the baby Jesus birth .

David was shinning Bethlehem’s star ,
Gabriel found the Kings,

Peter was handing out halos
and Mark was giving out wings .

Solomon was tuning up harps
and trumpets were blasting out ,

Choirs of angels were singing
and hark their voices were about.

All the angels had jobs to do,
that were written on their list .

But an envelope belonging
to Angel Jess had been missed ,

Now Helpful John decided to check out
Jess down on the ground .

Angel Jess was walking down a road,
as the dusk turned to dawn,

She wondered just how much further
would she have to travel on .

Her face looked tired and worried
when she met the good angel John.

Angel John wrapped his wings around her and said
“Hey Jess what wrong ?”

She got down on her knees and said,
“Well I’ll tell you Brother John,

the long narrow path I made
many people have trod along ,

but as hard as I have tried
I cannot make the weak ones strong.

I cannot make the deaf all hear
and I cannot cure the lame ”

John said,
“Wait on Jess, show me the envelope that bears your name.

Jess unfolded from her wings a crumpled envelope and said,

“On the list it clearly says heal the sick and raise up the dead”

Angel John laughed and said Jess there is a U after the s,

Somehow you’ve picked up the envelope that belongs to Jesus.

Suddenly that worried and weary look Jess had worn was gone,

And along the road the angels walked into a Christmas dawn .


By Paul McCann