 | Sonnets of the Wingless Hours |  |
15
KING CHRISTMAS.
Now Old King Christmas, bearded hoary-white,
Comes with his holly and carousing noise,
Barons of beef, mince pies, and wassail joys,
And flame surrounds the pudding blue and bright;
Comes with his holly and carousing noise,
Barons of beef, mince pies, and wassail joys,
And flame surrounds the pudding blue and bright;
And now the fir-trees, as he comes in sight,
Acclaimed by eager blue-eyed girls and boys,
Burst into tinsel fruit and glittering toys,
And turn into a pyramid of light.
Acclaimed by eager blue-eyed girls and boys,
Burst into tinsel fruit and glittering toys,
And turn into a pyramid of light.
I love, in fancy, still to see them all,
Those happy children round the dazzling tree
Which fills the room with scents of fir and wax;
Those happy children round the dazzling tree
Which fills the room with scents of fir and wax;
For still I love that life's sweet things should fall
Into the lap of others; though, for me,
The gift of Christmas is but pain that racks.
Into the lap of others; though, for me,
The gift of Christmas is but pain that racks.
| Sonnets of the Wingless Hours | |