A CHRISTMAS BALLAD
by
Anthony T. Massimini (1954)
Across the moonlit desert sands
The mission bells were ringing.
'Twas Christmas Eve and in the night,
Three happy men were singing.
In coming home from Prairie Town
They'd seen the Christmas Fair,
And luckily, these cowboys three
Had won some prizes there.
The first one had a cuckoo clock
With features quite bizarre;
The second had a pretty doll;
The third, a green guitar.
Between their carols as they rode
they spoke of the delight
The prizes that they each had won
would bring their folks that night.
Then, in the sky they saw a star,
Its darkness rose and fell;
'Twas the electric emblem
of the Texas Star Motel.
"Let's stop a while," one cowboy said,
"We've time and home is near,
Let's join the travelers at the inn
and drink the season's cheer."
The other two they quick agreed,
The inn was not too far.
So each one turned his sturdy steed
and started for the star.
Now at the in, the atmosphere
was extra warm and bright,
For many people, traveling home,
had stopped there for the night.
The overjoyed proprietor
was counting each receipt;
His inn was full, his wine well stocked,
his happiness, complete.
When through the din a quiet knock
was heard upon the door.
"Too bad," thought the proprietor,
"I haven't room for more."
The door came slowly open;
A Mexican stepped in;
Behind him softly came his wife;
Her face was dark and thin.
"Please, Mister," said the Mexican,
"My wife, she very sick;
Please give her some warm place to stay.
And get a doctor, quick!"
"Hold on!" said the proprietor,
"I can't do that for you!"
But then he looked again and said,
"I'll see what I can do."
"Maria," said the Mexican,
"Have courage, dear, and pray."
Maria smiled, then bowed her head
and answered, "Yes, Jose'."
Then back came the proprietor,
and slowly shook his head,
"The only place to stay," said he,
"Is outside in the shed."
"God bless you!" said he Mexican.
And then the lonely pair
Withdrew to find their resting place
out in the desert air.
Now by this time, the cowboys three
were nearing the motel;
Their caroling still rent the air,
and all was going well.
And as they passed an open shed
that stood beside a hill,
They saw a light and turned to look;
The sight there stopped them still.
A man was kneeling down in prayer,
A woman knelt close by;
And from some hay between the two,
there came a baby's cry!
The cowboys three, they went to see
this fascinating sight,
And they remembered vividly
that other Holy Night
When Wise Men three came bearing gifts
across a desert far,
And how they found the Holy Child
by following a star.
Now they too wished to give some gifts
to this poor couple's son;
They wondered what; and then
they spied the prizes they had won.
The first one gave his cuckoo clock,
with features quite bizarre;
The second gave his pretty doll;
The third, his green guitar.
Across the midnight desert sands,
The mission bells were ringing;
'Twas Christmas eve, and in the night,
'Twas Christmas eve, and in the night,
Three happy men were singing.
