Bring one rosette of alien mistletoe. Snowberries at the door in waxen sprays Have melted in a long autumnal glow Of preparation for these Holy Days. Bring holly branches. Cups of gleaming red Upon the winter lace of dogwood trees Hold sanctuary food -- the wine and bread Of robins and their fellow refugees. Set rainbows glittering up and down the spruce, Then lure them on to twinkle in the pine; The snow-doves drowsing there may dream a truce With jewel-wings if proxies flash and shine! @3Indoors, upon the tree which has no root, Pour silver rain, an ecstasy of fruit@1. A golden ribbon guarding cellophane Will make the fingers hesitate and tremble. If such a word as "love" should blur with pain! For reasons known where pearls and tears assemble. Too tangible -- too rich a gift, by far, For one who fears a gesture in disguise, Who feels the chill of jewels when the star Of happiness is lost in clouded skies! The tree is holding miracles outspread; There still is room beneath its canopy. No other claims a signature unread And whitely written though indelibly. . . . @3For her alone, on silver Yuletide boughs Lay warmth of heart, a song of cherished vows@1. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NURSING HOME: THE DOLL by KAREN SWENSON GULF-WEED by CORNELIUS GEORGE FENNER AFTER A JOURNEY by THOMAS HARDY A THANKSGIVING TO GOD [FOR HIS HOUSE] by ROBERT HERRICK SEVEN AGES OF MAN, FR. AS YOU LIKE IT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE SONNET FOR A PICTURE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |