Advent

They’re counting down the days

preparations being made

old favourites coming out

of their slumber

for that extra special day of the year

People filling Shopping carts

with food, presents and gifts

while cards are full of

sentimentality

wishing you the best of the season

Enough food to feed a battalion

and a struggle to fit everyone round

as roast dinner – either meat or veg

is the centrepiece of the table

of course – it has to be bought and cooked first

But in a small part of the city – up and down the land

countdown is a little less noisier

as a stable door sits ajar

soon to be filled with a special child in a crib

kept warm with oxen and donkey

and each Sunday – a candle is lit

counting down the time to the arrival

of this extra special child

till the white candle is lit

and choirs sing out – rejoice – he is here.