<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334627</docID> <postdate>2024-12-16 04:00:49</postdate> <headline>Christmas carol: A baby is born to save us </headline> <body><p><span class="kicker-line"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-334631" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/large-church-bells.jpeg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></span></span></p> <p><span class="kicker-line"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columnist </span><b>HUGH SELBY</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> takes to poetry with a seasonal message of hope. </span></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love the bells on Christmas Day</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their old familiar carols play</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">And wild and sweet</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their words repeat</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then peel the bells more loud and deep</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Gods are not dead, nor do they sleepâ€</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The wrong shall fail</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">And right prevail</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A lone bell wail seeks heaven’s door</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inscribed on which is found this lore </span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Search for the dove</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Come back with love</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A great bell tolled, the missile struck</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lives vaporised by mindless luck</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fate cut the threads</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fate spared one bed</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bells sound justice, truth, and peace</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">But first the sounds of war must cease</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now a ceasefire</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our fates still dire</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bells are silent, bellringers sleep</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Survivors through the ruins creep</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Food and water</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sons and daughters</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Calls to prayer ring out each day</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justice is sought by all who pray</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Allah their light</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justice their right</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bells and calls reach out to all</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Including babies on the crawl</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still free of hate</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Any may be great</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love the bells each waking day</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their old familiar music plays</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">And wild and sweet</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their words repeat</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">A baby is born to save us</span></em></p> </body>