I have always loved this poem, the beauty of the words, the image they paint in my mind. I read it every year to my children. It always brings tears ( I am a little sentimental!)
You can read other poems here
In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Christina Rossetti
photo: a favorite hike near Lake Michigan
I was in showchior in highschool. Every year at Christmas we held a "Madrigal Dinner" complete with costumes, figgy pudding and serving wenches. Every year we sang this song. It is beautiful and haunting.
ReplyDeletethank you for reminding me of it.
So lovely, Amy! That photo goes perfect with it! I, too, will read this to my children this afternoon. Thanks so much for sharing with us such a thought provoking and beautiful reflection on Christ's birth.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved this poem and the melancholy strains when I hear it at Christmas. Reminds me that I need to find that Christmas CD on which it is sung. Thank you for your selection.
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