Just because they were watching their sheep
doesn’t mean they weren’t also watching
for a miracle. Even the most practical acts
leave room for wonder. And while the ewes and lambs
bleated to each other through the darkness—
their way of checking that all is well—
perhaps some part of the shepherds
was also calling out to some great unknown,
hoping to hear a call back, some message
that they, too, were not alone. Or perhaps
they would have rather ignored the bright star,
too tired for miracles, wishing
that for once the sheep would be quiet,
wishing that darn star would just quit
its beaming, stirring everything up,
changing the familiar night.