_Says a rogue to his sidekick,

"You perhaps think you are quick,

 

But I'll tell you what I've heard

From some nerd, or from some bird ...

 

You might find it quite absurd,

But I'm sure it has occurred.

 

I will speak. You pay the beer.

It will help you in your career.

 

This is how the story goes,

Told in plain and simple prose:

 

1. Birth of Jeezah

_In Beth-lehm, as Heaven smiled,

Joe and Mary had a child.

 

In a stable it should lie

'Neath a star up in the sky.

 

On three camels, from afar,

Three wise men follow the star.

 

Trotting steady, they draw nigh,

Their gaze always is on high.

 

There's a cow, and there's a sheep.

Not one shepherd is asleep.

 

All must see the child Jeez-ah,

Sing a song, Hal-le-lu-jah!

 

Beeh and Beh, Mooh and Mah,

All delight in babe Jeez-ah!

 

Then the camels from afar

Find repose under the star,

 

While three gifts the wise men bring

To the child they call a king.

 

Then came silent, gentle breeze;

Like a lamb slept baby Jeez.

2. Flight into Egypt

_But Herr Odees rules the land

With mistrust and iron hand.

 

He's not friendly, he's not wise,

Sweet lamb Jeezah, he despise'.

 

So he wants the baby snatched,

And immediately dispatched.

 

Says an angel: 'Anger grows!

Joe and Mary, on your toes!'

 

So through dunes of sand they ride

On a donkey, far, to hide.

 

Into Egypt, Jeezah goes,

Where the Nile immortal flows,

 

Where the Phoenix sometimes shows,

Where the moon like the moon glows.

 

Into Egypt, Jeezah goes,

A long way from angry foes.

 

Now Herr Odees thinks he knows

Where to deal his deadly blows,

 

And sends soldiers after them,

But he sends them to Beth-lehm!

 

Woe woe woe what tribulation

Runs across the sandy nation!

 

For one Jeezah who must die,

Thousand babies he makes cry.

 

Whack and woe! Woe and why?

For a star up in the sky!

3. John the Batty

_The whole world was filled with dread.

But Herr Odees soon was dead ...

 

(That's the trouble with existence,

It's deprived of persistence.)

 

So the three go back, you see,

Settle down in Gal-i-lee,

 

Where the child becomes a youth ...

Not like you ... He tells the truth.

 

Yet that habit is a stigma,

Like its source is an enigma.

 

Telling truths, pal, equals brawl,

Leads a man to his downfall

 

With more certainty and haste

Than all toxics he can taste.

 

John the Batty, prophet-warden

Of a river we call Jordan,

 

Bred bad blood with that fool habit,

And they trapped him like a rabbit.

 

He says, 'Heaven is at hand,

One shall come to purge this land,

 

You will learn when you him greet

What his plans are with his wheat.'

 

Then he said to all, 'Repent,'

But the people were content,

 

Save for Jeezah who meets John

By the river, whereupon

 

Heaven opens. From on high,

A dove dives across the sky.

 

Overhead, it hovers, gleams.

The blue shines with golden beams.

 

Then a voice resounds above,

'Jeez's my son, whom much I love.'

 

4. The Devil

_Listen now to the main part,

Which could help you, if you're smart:

 

To the desert Jeezah goes

To meet Satan and his woes.

 

There's no food and there's no drink.

Fourty days: fit time to think!

 

At last Satan did appear,

Speaking words most crystal clear:

 

'Turn to bread this solid stone,

If you are God's son or clone.'

 

Answers Jeezah in cool tone:

'Man lives not by bread alone.'

 

Then the devil wants to sell

Gold and kingdoms from his hell;

 

For great riches Satan leases

To each one who Satan pleases.

 

But guess now what Jeezah said:

'Get you hence, Satan, you're dead!'

_And thereby the scene is closed

Since that's how it was composed ...

 

This I heard long time ago.

It was Christmas. There was snow.

 

My good chum, you see, these tales

Give some hints on buys and sales.

 

And who knows? You meet that devil,

Get a chance to raise your level!

 

To that prospect, say three cheers!

Yours are well-invested beers!

 

Call this tale my Christmas gift;

It might help you catch the drift!"

 

Saying that, the rogue drinks up,

His left hand stroking his pup.

Carlos Parada
Christmas 2005