This life's most jolly, Amiens said, Heigh-ho, the holly! So sang he. As the good duke was comforted In forest exile, so may we! The years may darken as they flee, And Christmas bring his melancholy: But round the old mahogany tree We drink, we sing Heigh-ho, the holly! Though some are dead and some are fled To lands of summer over sea, The holly berry keeps his red, The merry children keep their glee; They hoard with artless secrecy This gift for Maude, and that for Molly, And Santa Claus he turns the key On Christmas Eve, Heigh-ho, the holly! Amid the snow the birds are fed, The snow lies deep on lawn and lea; The skies are shining overhead, The robin's tame that was so free. Far north, at home, the 'barley bree' They brew; they give the hour to folly, How 'Rab and Allan came to pree', They sing, we sing, Heigh-ho, the holly! Envoy Friend, let us pay the wonted fee, The yearly tithe of mirth: be jolly! It is a duty so to be, Though half we sigh, Heigh-ho, the holly! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THREE STEPS by KATHARINE LEE BATES WOOD MAGIC by FRANCES HALLEY BROCKETT THE ANGEL THAT MISSED CHRISTMAS by WILLIAM E. BROOKS A WORLD WITHOUT WATER by MARY ANN BROWNE THE ARCTIC LOVER by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 95 by BLISS CARMAN A YOUNG LASS'S SOLILOQUY by REBEKAH CARMICHAEL |