The Christmas Poetry Thread

[LA Ute]

I have other favorites that have become the lyrics to Christmas hymns, but this is my favorite non-hymn poetry:

Christ Ran Stumbling
Anthony Ross
Lord Rector, University of Edinburgh

Christ ran stumbling down the street
on little twisted feet;
small blue hands over the place
where someone had bruised his face.
His starved, thin body shook with tears
and quick short gasps of fear.

Bitter the December day,
streets and sky an equal gray;
no brightness, but the neoned pub
where city men with Christmas grin
forgetfully went out and in.

When did we see you? folks will say,
at the last day.

[Indy Coug]

Probing the darkness, his head enters slowly
But with purpose. Suddenly enveloped in warmth
Sliding deeper, deeper; the pace quickens.
Bursts of light, sound and smells heralds
The deposit of his load within the stocking

[LA Ute]

This one is both poetry and music, one of my faves:

It is actually partly contemporary. In the 1980s John Rutter put the words of a lovely old poem to music. Here are the lyrics:

What Sweeter Music

What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this day,
That sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:

‘Tis He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him. The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the heart.

Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour, who’s our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?

-- Robert Herrick (1591-1674)