The Christmas Story in Poetic Verse, by Alvy E. Ford (1918-2005)

Share the Christmas story with the young and young-at-heart by sharing chapters of the Bible presented in poetic words. 

Alvy Ford, a long-departed saint, created a beautiful work in which he summarized every chapter of the Bible in verse.  Read his bio below.  He’s now in Heaven, but his dedicated work and inspired words live on in his book, “The Bible in Verse.”

The Christmas Story in Verse

By Alvy E. Ford

Isaiah 9

People in darkness have seen a great light,
Greatly dispelling their gloom and their night.
Now is a son unto Israel born;
Government good, on his shoulders is born.

Matthew 1

Book of the lineage of Jesus the Christ,
Reaching from Abraham through Joseph’s wife.
Mary, the virgin, brings forth her first son;
Jesus, they name Him; salvation’s begun.

Matthew 2

Wise men come seeking, with gifts in their hand.
Joseph and Mary are sent from the land.
Herod, in rage, has the children all killed.
Joseph returns, and the Word is fulfilled.

Luke 2

Mary, at Bethlehem, brings forth a Son,
Lays in a manger; redemption’s begun.
Jesus, conceived by the blest Holy Ghost.
Shepherds are told by the Heavenly Host.

The Alvy Ford Story 

Alvy Ford was born in 1918 and attended a one-room schoolhouse in his youth. He entered the US Army at the age of 26, and served on the island of Okinawa during World War II. But sadly, in 1945, an accidental explosion of a hand grenade blinded him in both eyes, and his life changed immediately and drastically.  He was discharged and began attending Bible school as a blind student.

To aid in remembering the text of the book of Daniel, Ford summed up each chapter of the book in four simple lines of rhyming verse. He found it extremely helpful and, therefore, embarked on doing the same for every chapter in the Bible. In less than five months, “The Bible in Verse” was completed.  It was published in 1955.

Alvy E. Ford — The Blind Poet
Personal Testimony

I cannot see that of which others tell:
The beauties of this earth on which we dwell;
The jeweled perfection of the starry sky;
Great sights that please and tantalize the eye.

But there are precious jewels which are not seen:
Things everlasting, wholesome, pure, and clean.
Such gems are found within God’s Holy Book,
Wherein a man, though blind, may freely look.

And I have looked within that Book, and found
A source of perfect peace, a footing sound.
I’ve found, portrayed therein, a gracious Friend,
Whose tender loving care will never end.

So now I see His hand upon my life,
Directing all my way, through peace or strife;
And though my way is dark, I’m not alone;
With Christ, I am content while walking home.