Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Wilbur’s “A Christmas Hymn” is a profound meditation on the significance of Christ’s nativity, the paradox of His suffering and triumph, and the reconciliation of humanity through divine intervention. Wilbur uses rich imagery, biblical allusions, and a rhythmic, hymn-like structure to evoke both the intimate and universal dimensions of the Christmas story. The poem is marked by its refrain, “And every stone shall cry,” which recurs throughout as a unifying motif, symbolizing the response of all creation to the presence of Christ.

The poem opens with a humble yet luminous image: “A stable-lamp is lighted / Whose glow shall wake the sky.” This juxtaposition of the ordinary and the cosmic underscores the paradox of Christ’s birth in a lowly manger, illuminating the vast spiritual significance of the event. The phrase “the stars shall bend their voices” evokes a celestial choir, suggesting that even the heavens bear witness to this momentous occasion. The refrain immediately follows, “And every stone shall cry,” emphasizing the universal scope of this transformative event. The image of stones crying reflects the biblical notion that even inanimate creation responds to divine glory, as echoed in Luke 19:40, where Jesus says, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

The second stanza continues this interplay between the ordinary and the sacred, describing the stable as a place where “straw like gold shall shine” and “a stall become a shrine.” Wilbur’s diction elevates the commonplace, imbuing it with sanctity. The transformation of a barn into a shrine highlights the radical inversion of values central to the Christian narrative—where the lowly are exalted, and the ordinary is sanctified. This inversion is further explored in the poem’s depiction of Christ’s journey through David’s city, where His future triumph is prefigured. The reference to “The palm shall strew its branches” alludes to the events of Palm Sunday, foreshadowing the passion and eventual resurrection.

The refrain’s repetition in the context of Christ’s journey is particularly poignant: “And every stone shall cry, / Though heavy, dull, and dumb, / And lie within the roadway / To pave His kingdom come.” Here, the stones take on a dual symbolism, representing both the physical path of Christ’s mission and the spiritual resistance of humanity. Their weight and inertia reflect the burden of sin and the often-unresponsive nature of human hearts. Yet these same stones are part of the foundation of His kingdom, underscoring the paradox that even resistance and suffering can be transformed into avenues of grace.

As the poem transitions to Christ’s crucifixion, the tone darkens: “Yet He shall be forsaken, / And yielded up to die; / The sky shall groan and darken, / And every stone shall cry.” The imagery of cosmic upheaval mirrors the events of the Passion, where the natural world responds to the gravity of the crucifixion. The stones here cry out not in praise but in lamentation, reflecting the tragedy of divine love rejected. The line “God’s blood upon the spearhead, / God’s love refused again” encapsulates the central paradox of the Christian faith: the ultimate act of divine love—Christ’s sacrifice—is met with human betrayal and violence.

Despite this somber meditation on suffering and rejection, the poem concludes on a triumphant and hopeful note. The final stanza returns to the theme of inversion: “But now, as at the ending, / The low is lifted high.” This line encapsulates the redemptive arc of the Christian narrative, where Christ’s humility and suffering lead to exaltation and reconciliation. The repetition of the opening imagery—“The stars shall bend their voices, / And every stone shall cry”—creates a cyclical structure, emphasizing the eternal and unchanging nature of this divine truth. The final lines, “In praises of the child / By whose descent among us / The worlds are reconciled,” affirm the central message of the Incarnation: through Christ, heaven and earth, God and humanity, are brought into harmony.

Structurally, Wilbur’s use of quatrains with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB) and rhythmic regularity lends the poem a musical quality befitting its title. The repetition of the refrain not only unifies the poem but also reinforces its thematic emphasis on the universal response to Christ’s presence. Wilbur’s language is both accessible and deeply evocative, combining the simplicity of hymnody with the complexity of theological reflection.

In “A Christmas Hymn,” Wilbur masterfully weaves together the themes of humility, suffering, and redemption, presenting the nativity as the fulcrum of human history and divine purpose. The recurring refrain of “And every stone shall cry” serves as a poignant reminder that Christ’s coming resonates through all creation, calling forth both lamentation and praise. Through its rich imagery and profound insights, the poem invites readers to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation and its transformative power.

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