Lawrence Sail, “Nativity”

They will not be distracted—kings
flipping open jewelled lids,
shepherds bent towards the crib,
the animals safe in their soft gazing.

They seem too blithe, quite unaware
of looming night, as if aloof
under the gleaming fish-scale roof,
as if blind to the world’s cares.

Yet they know how we would miss
their wise and quiet attentiveness:
calm as sleeping doves, they bless
the darkness where the stars persist.