 | New poems |  |
51
CHRISTMAS EVE IN IRELAND
Not a cabin in the Glen shuts its door to-night,
Lest the travellers abroad knock in vain and pass,
Just a humble gentleman and a lady bright
And she to be riding on an ass.
Lest the travellers abroad knock in vain and pass,
Just a humble gentleman and a lady bright
And she to be riding on an ass.
Grief is on her goodman, that the inns deny
Shelter to his dearest Dear in her hour of need;
That her Babe of royal birth, starriest, most high,
Has not where to lay His head.
Shelter to his dearest Dear in her hour of need;
That her Babe of royal birth, starriest, most high,
Has not where to lay His head.
Must they turn in sadness to the cattle byre
And the kind beasts once again shake the bed for Him?
Not a cabin in the Glen but heaps wood on the fire
And keeps its lamps a-trim.
And the kind beasts once again shake the bed for Him?
Not a cabin in the Glen but heaps wood on the fire
And keeps its lamps a-trim.
Now the woman makes the bed, smoothes the linen sheet,
Spreads the blanket, soft and white, that her own hands spun.
Whisht! is that the ass that comes, on his four little feet,
Carrying the Holy One?
Spreads the blanket, soft and white, that her own hands spun.
Whisht! is that the ass that comes, on his four little feet,
Carrying the Holy One?
52
Nay, 'twas but the wind and rain, the sand on the floor.
A bitter night, yea, cruel, for folk to be abroad.
And she, not fit for hardship, outside a fast-closed door,
And her Son the Son of God!
A bitter night, yea, cruel, for folk to be abroad.
And she, not fit for hardship, outside a fast-closed door,
And her Son the Son of God!
Is it the moon that's turning the dark world to bright?
Is it some wonderful dawning in the night and cold?
Whisht! Did you see a shining One and Him to be clad in light
And the wings and head of Him gold?
Is it some wonderful dawning in the night and cold?
Whisht! Did you see a shining One and Him to be clad in light
And the wings and head of Him gold?
Who are then those people, hurrying, hasting, those,
And they all looking up in the sky this night of wondrous things?
Oh, those I think be shepherdmen, and they that follow close,
I think, by their look, be kings.
And they all looking up in the sky this night of wondrous things?
Oh, those I think be shepherdmen, and they that follow close,
I think, by their look, be kings.
Not a cabin in the Glen shuts the door till day,
Lest the heavenly travellers come, knock again in vain.
All the night the dulcimers, flutes, and hautboys play,
And the angels walk with men.
Lest the heavenly travellers come, knock again in vain.
All the night the dulcimers, flutes, and hautboys play,
And the angels walk with men.
| New poems | |