In Bethlehem

By Sharon Price Anderson

Not far from Mount Moriah

where the Father of the Faithful

built an altar of native stone,

and binding Isaac, laid him

on the fire-ready wood

of sacrifice, before he saw

the thicket-caught ram,

Mary lays her firstborn son,

wrapped in swaddling bands,

on tinder-dry hay

in limestone

manger

of a stable-cave.

Fulfilled again are words

of Abraham—

God will provide Himself a lamb.

For unto Us a Child Is Born, by Simon Dewey © courtesy of Altus Fine Art, American Fork, Utah; inset: detail from Sacrifice of Isaac, by Jerry Harston