And Earth Stirred

And Earth stirred.
Upon the face of heaven
Streamed a star, in sign.
And the wise arose and sought the spot.
Night, slow, made her paces
Across the desert sands,
And the holy mantle
Of glistening stars fell o'er
Her shoulders as she came.
The camel's pad pressed the sands
As through ages they had pressed.
Men slept, and Earth had not waked,
Though heaven had set the sign on high,
And clarions had sounded the coming
Upon the portals of the new day.
While angelic host proclaimed
The Nativity, Earth slept-
And Bethlehem shut her doors.