His stable is
a Prince’s courte,
The cribbe His
chaire of State;
The beastes
are parcell of
His pompe,
The wodden dishe,
His plate.
Robert Southwell The Lion's Noël
A Book of Christmas Beasts
There were other signs given to the beasts of the sea. The Sign of Jonah was one of them. When the
Creator called the great fish to swallow Jonah, the story spread quickly to all
areas of the seas. By the time Jonah was spit out onto the shore a vast
assembly of sea beasts had gathered in the wake of the great fish to watch the
spectacle.
But these beasts knew something deeper about the voyage of Jonah. They knew its meaning. They knew that when the Creator came to earth to be born as a child of flesh he would be swallowed up for three days and nights, as was Jonah, swallowed up in the tomb, and then come forth again to bring new life to all the earth.
One more sign was the best sign, the long-awaited sign, the sign of the birth of the Creator as Earth Child: the New Star, the Star of Bethlehem. The wisest creatures from over all the earth watched for it.
Since their Creator was being born as a child on land, the
beasts of the sea searched their realm for an emissary that could be sent to
greet the newborn King. They needed one that could travel on land and sea.
But who could go?
Flying Fish could not go far enough.
Sea Beasts and Everything that Lives in Water!
From the Book of Daniel, Apocrypha
Sea beasts and everything that lives in water! bless the Lord!
Give glory and eternal praise to Him!
Birds of heaven! all bless the Lord!
Give glory and eternal praise to Him!
Give glory and eternal praise to Him!
Here ends
The Psalm of the Sea Beasts
VII. The Psalm of the Sea Beasts
From “How They Brought the Good News
by Sea”
Fish of the sea couldn’t come—
not over dry ground,
They loitered in sight of the Holy Land,
and listened for word from Bethlehem.
Close as they dared, whales swam,
trying not to cough.
Dolphins surmounted the vaults of surf,
Starfish hushed the
spitting foam.
They took the word to the tide—
which was going out.
Minnow told plaice, plaice told pout,
Hear all about it!
News! they cried.
Norma Farber, 1909-1984
Right after Stars
The creatures of the oceans and seas have from the beginning
been linked with the stars and orbs of heaven. The very liquid in which they
live moves and breathes to the pulse of the moon’s influence. During the
creation of this world the creatures of the waters were brought forth just
after the lights were set in the firmament of heaven. The lights were set there for signs and for
seasons. The water beasts knew this; and they were always the first to see
those heavenly signs.
One of the first signs given from the sky to the sea beasts
was a sign of water. This came about when the
rains came to Noah to cleanse the earth. The entire world was water. The
creatures of the seas rejoiced. The lands of earth that they had never seen
stretched out below them under the waters. The whole earth, new-baptized, was
clean.
Another water-sign that the sea beasts loved was the wall of
water that formed when Moses stretched his hand over the sea. At first the
creatures were frightened, but as soon as they realized that the wall of water
was impenetrable, they began to enjoy its novelty, swam up close and looked out at the Hebrew tribes as they crossed the ocean bottom. When the wall collapsed the
ocean was full of Egyptians; and one anxious family of angelfish was reunited.
But these beasts knew something deeper about the voyage of Jonah. They knew its meaning. They knew that when the Creator came to earth to be born as a child of flesh he would be swallowed up for three days and nights, as was Jonah, swallowed up in the tomb, and then come forth again to bring new life to all the earth.
One more sign was the best sign, the long-awaited sign, the sign of the birth of the Creator as Earth Child: the New Star, the Star of Bethlehem. The wisest creatures from over all the earth watched for it.
The sea
beasts were the first to see the Star. They saw it reflected on their wet ceiling
long before the camels were aware of it, and before even one man of wisdom
connected it with the prophecies of Bethlehem Ephratah*.
As a
matter of fact, it was a freshwater fish, living in a pond by the
tent of one religious scholar, that told a thirsty camel about the Star
when he came for a drink. Then the camel made his driver stop and look up to
the sky when he came to feed the camels. The driver told his steward when he
came to urge the men. Then the steward told his master, who was a man of
wisdom, and this master remembered the ancient writings of prophets about a Star and a Child.
Since their Creator was being born as a child on land, the
beasts of the sea searched their realm for an emissary that could be sent to
greet the newborn King. They needed one that could travel on land and sea.
Walking Fish could not go long enough.
Frog, unfortunately, was not reliable. Any water would do
for him. He would stop along the way and be lost to them. He could not be
trusted to travel to Bethlehem and back to bring them word.
Turtle was the only other choice. But was she fast enough?
Many of the water beasts feared that she would not reach Bethlehem in time to
see the Child. They were not concerned with how long it took her to return.
They were infinitely patient and wanted only to hear that their gift of worship
had been accepted by the Child.
It was decided. Turtle would go.
All the beasts of the sea gathered near the shore and peered
quietly out of the water as Turtle crawled slowly up the bank onto dry land,
moving toward a Star -- moving slowly toward Bethlehem.
Leon Archibald, who was inspired by the poem “How They Brought the Good News by Sea” by Norma Farber, an excerpt included here, as well as her unpublished poem “Turtle toward Bethlehem” of which an excerpt follows.
*Ephratah. (ehf' ruh tah) Hebrew: Fruitful, ancient name of Bethlehem
From "Turtle Toward Bethlehem"
I need to be there while the baby's still new.
Next summer won't do.
Today in the stable they gather to celebrate.
Later--who knows?
Amazing how fast an infant grows.
Amazing this Ram, with horns in his bonnet.
How tempting his back!
I wish I could scramble up on it
Norma Farber, 1909-1984
A Fire Is Started in Bethlehem/
En Belén Tocan a Fuego
Here
in Bethlehem this evening,
Springs
a mighty Flame from Heaven,
Whom
our sins will be consuming,
And
through Whom we are forgiven.
Flashing and
splashing, the fishes in the river,
Splashing and bowing
to God, from Heaven coming;
Flashing and
splashing, the fishes in the water,
Splashing and praising
the Light from Heaven dawning.
In
a cold and humble stable,
Blooms
a spotless white Carnation,
That
becomes a purple Lily,
Sacrificed
for our redemption.
Washing
swaddling clothes for Jesus,
Mary
by a stream is singing.
Birdlings
chirp a joyful greeting,
And
the rippling brook is laughing.
Flashing and
splashing, the fishes in the river,
Splashing and bowing
to God, from Heaven coming;
Flashing and
splashing, the fishes in the water,
Splashing and praising
the Light from Heaven dawning.
Traditional Castilian Carol
En Belén Tocan a Fuego/
A Fire Is Started in Bethlehem
En
Belén tocan a fuego
Del portal salen las llamas,
Porque dicen que ha nacido
El Redentor de las almas.
Del portal salen las llamas,
Porque dicen que ha nacido
El Redentor de las almas.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el río,
Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
Brincan y bailan de ver nacida el alba.
Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
Brincan y bailan de ver nacida el alba.
La
Virgen lava pañales
Y los tiende en el romero,
Los pajarillos cantaban
Y el agua se iba riendo.
Y los tiende en el romero,
Los pajarillos cantaban
Y el agua se iba riendo.
Los
pastores en Belén
Llevaban haces de leña
Para calentar al niño
Que ha nacido en Nochebuena.
Llevaban haces de leña
Para calentar al niño
Que ha nacido en Nochebuena.
En
el portal de Belén
Nació un clavel encarnado
Que por redimir al mundo
Se ha vuelto lirio morado.
Nació un clavel encarnado
Que por redimir al mundo
Se ha vuelto lirio morado.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el río,
Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
Brincan y bailan de ver nacida el alba.
Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.
Brincan y bailan los peces en el agua,
Brincan y bailan de ver nacida el alba.
Traditional Castilian Carol
Words from an Old Spanish Carol
Shall I tell you who will come
to Bethlehem on Christmas Morn,
Who will kneel them gently down
before the Lord, new-born?
to Bethlehem on Christmas Morn,
Who will kneel them gently down
before the Lord, new-born?
One small fish from the river,
with scales of red, red gold,
One wild bee from the heather,
one gray lamb from the fold,
One ox from the high pasture,
with scales of red, red gold,
One wild bee from the heather,
one gray lamb from the fold,
One ox from the high pasture,
one black bull from the herd,
One goatling from the far hills,
one white, white bird.
One goatling from the far hills,
one white, white bird.
And many children — God give them grace,
bringing tall candles to light Mary's face.
bringing tall candles to light Mary's face.
Shall I tell you who will come
to Bethlehem on Christmas Morn,
Who will kneel them gently down
before the Lord, new-born?
to Bethlehem on Christmas Morn,
Who will kneel them gently down
before the Lord, new-born?
Traditional Spanish, translated by Ruth Sawyer, 1880-1970
Animals wild and tame! all bless the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His love is everlasting.
All you who worship Him, bless the God of Gods,
praise Him and give Him thanks,
for His love is everlasting.
Flashing and
splashing, the fishes in the river,
Splashing and bowing to God, from Heaven
coming;
Flashing and splashing, the fishes in
the water,
Splashing and praising the Light
from Heaven dawning.
From "A Fire Is Started in Bethlehem"
The Psalm of the Sea Beasts
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