The Friendly Beasts of Solstice…and Love

When I was a wee human, one of my favorite holiday tales was of the myth that on the night that baby Jesus was born, animals could speak. I loved to sing “The Friendly Beasts” more than any other Christmas song and can vividly remember watching that animated special of The Night the Animals Talked from my Mam-Maw’s couch, despite having very few other specific memories of early childhood. Although my personal beliefs obviously changed throughout the years, I’ve always retained a softness for the spirit of that particular story, so much so that I put it into a language of my own soul’s work. I sing it to the horses on Winter Solstice every year. For some reason, it just feels like this might be a good year to share it.

In the darkest hour of the longest night; at a quiet barn just out of sight

Where love was born to reign again; and the beasts all spoke in the tongue of men

I said the donkey all shaggy and brown; I carried her gently uphill and down

I traveled love safely through town after town; I said the donkey shaggy and brown

I said the cow all white and red; I gave her my manger for her bed

I gave love my hay to pillow her head; I said the cow white and red

I said the sheep with the curly horn; I gave her my wool to keep her warm

Love wore my coat on Solstice morn; I said the sheep with the curly horn

I said the dove from the rafters high; I sang her a song so she would not cry

We sang love to sleep my mate and I; I said the dove from rafters high

I said the horse tattered and worn; I gave her my heart to weather the storm

I filled love with kindness and magic was born; I said the horse tattered and worn

I said the wolf most wild and free; I send you no fear at the sight of me

I’ll carry love’s word with the help of the trees; I said the wolf wild and free

And so it was that the Solstice night; brought the beasts of the earth from land, sea and flight

To gather as one and each to say; of the gifts that they gave to love that day

The gifts that they gave to love on that day

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