In holly hedges starving birds Silently mourn the setting year; Upright like silver-plated swords The flags stand in the frozen mere. The mistletoe we still adore Upon the twisted hawthorn grows: In antique gardens hellebore Puts forth its blushing Christmas rose. Shrivell'd and purple, cheek by jowl, The hips and haws hang drearily; Roll'd in a ball the sulky owl Creeps far into his hollow tree. In abbeys and cathedrals dim The birth of Christ is acted o'er; The kings of Cologne worship him, Balthazar, Jasper, Melchior. The shepherds in the field at night Beheld an angel glory-clad. And shrank away with sore afright. "Be not afraid," the angel bade. "I bring good news to king and clown, To you here crouching on the sward; For there is born in David's town A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. "Behold the babe is swathed, and laid Within a manger." Straight there stood Beside the angel all arrayed A heavenly multitude. "Glory to God," they sang; "and peace, Good pleasure among men." The wondrous message of release! Glory to God again! Hush! Hark! the waits, far up the street! A distant, ghostly charm unfolds, Of magic music wild and sweet, Anemones and clarigolds. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO WISDOM by ELIZABETH CARTER BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS! by WALT WHITMAN THE MEANING by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE TO MARY SINTON LEITCH, POET AND FRIEND by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE ON THE DEATH OF SMET-SMET, THE HIPPOTAMUS-GODDESS by RUPERT BROOKE |