Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRISTMAS AND IRELAND, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The golden stars give warmthless fire
Subject(s): Ireland



To Miss Milligan.

The golden stars give warmthless fire ,
Sing Bethlehem next hit ! previous hit Sing Bethlehem next hit !
As weary Mary goes through night:
You daughters of Jerusalem!
Her feet are torn by stone and briar;
Keep sorrow for Gethsemani,
She hath no rest, no strength, no light:
And mourning for Mount Calvary!
O Mary, weary in the snow,
Why are your lids and lashes wet?
Remember Ireland's woe!
Here is no darkling Olivet.




O Joseph, sad for Mary's sake!
Sing Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
Look on our earthly Mother too:
You daughters of Jerusalem!
Let not the heart of Ireland break
How should we previous hit sing of Bethlehem,
With agony, the ages through:
We, daughters of Jerusalem?
For Mary's love, love also thou
We are the people of the Jews:
Ireland, and save her now!
Our balms would soothe Him not, but bruise.




Harsh were the folk, and bitter stern,
Ah, Calvary! ah, Calvary!
At Bethlehem, that night of nights.
We wretched women cry to thee:
For you no cheering hearth shall burn:
We, daughters of Jerusalem;
We have no room here, you no rights.
And enemies of Bethlehem.
O Mary and Joseph! hath not she,
With faces cast upon the dust,
Ireland, been even as ye?
We weep those things, which do we must:




The ancient David's royal house
Our tears embitter Calvary,
Was thine, Saint Joseph! wherefore she,
And water thee, Gethsemani!
Mary, thine Ever Virgin Spouse,
Nay, Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
To thine own city went with thee.
Poor daughters of Jerusalem!
Behold! thy citizens disown
You know not, what you do: but He
The heir of David's throne!
Will pardon you on Calvary.




Nay, more! The Very King of kings
Nay, more! The Very King of kings
Was with you, coming to his own:
Was with you, coming to his own:
They thrust Him forth to lowliest things;
They thrust Him forth to lowliest things;
The poor meek beasts of toil alone
The poor meek beasts of toil alone
Stood by, when came to piteous birth
Stood by, when came to piteous birth
The God of all the earth.
The God of all the earth.




And she, our Mother Ireland, knows
And she, our Mother Ireland, knows
Insult, and infamies of wrong:
Insult, and infamies of wrong:
Her innocent children clad with woes,
Her innocent children clad with woes,
Her weakness trampled by the strong:
Her weakness trampled by the strong:
And still upon her Holy Land
And still upon her Holy Land
Her pitiless foemen stand.
Her pitiless foemen stand.




From Manger unto Cross and Crown
From Manger unto Cross and Crown
Went Christ: and Mother Mary passed
Went Christ: and Mother Mary passed
Through Seven Sorrows, and sat down
Through Seven Sorrows, and sat down
Upon the Angel Throne at last.
Upon the Angel Throne at last.
Thence, Mary! to thine own Child pray,
Thence, Mary! to thine own Child pray,
For Ireland's hope this day!
For Ireland's hope this day!




She wanders amid winter still,
She wanders amid winter still,
The dew of tears is on her face:
The dew of tears is on her face:
Her wounded heart takes yet its fill
Her wounded heart takes yet its fill
Of desolation and disgrace.
Of desolation and disgrace.
God still is God! And through God she
God still is God! And through God she
Foreknows her joy to be.
Foreknows her joy to be.




The snows shall perish at the spring,
The snows shall perish at the spring,
The flowers pour fragrance round her feet:
The flowers pour fragrance round her feet:
Ah, Jesus! Mary! Joseph! bring
Ah, Jesus! Mary! Joseph! bring
This mercy from the Mercy Seat!
This mercy from the Mercy Seat!
Send it, sweet King of Glory, born
Send it, sweet King of Glory, born
Humbly on Christmas Morn!
Humbly on Christmas Morn!








Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net