Dear readers: We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy these poems for the holidays.
“Christmas in the Heart” by Paul Laurence Dunbar “The snow lies deep on the ground, / And winter’s glow everywhere / Covered bravely in the serene wood, / With jewels of the brave old year. / The people from the shore to the hill / With some new spirit it seems; / And all the bells of the temple are ringing. / In the happy houses the brown oak branch / Lives with the red-gemmed holly; / And here and there, like pearls, there show / The berries of the mistletoe / Says to the maidens: ‘Come not here!’ / Even the poor of the earth / Some good gift has rejoiced! / In his chamber, dim and cold, / An old miser sits that takes. / He has no thought but one of gain, — / Grind and gather and take and drain. / A toll of bells, a joyous cry / Assailing his ear: he looks out / On a world to him all gray, / And growls: “For what, this is Christmas Day!” / No, iceman, — for shame, for shame! / For ‘Christmas’ is not a mere name. / No, not for you this sonic joy, / This festive season of the year. / And not for you the tolling of bells / Of the holy temple is redoubled. / Of course it has no part — / Who does not have Christmas in his heart!
An excerpt from “Christmas in Wartime” by Richard Le Gallienne “Oh, pray with all your heart for the war to end, / And who knows but God will hear the prayer. / So the next Christmas day may come / That we will hear the happy children play / Joyfully loud, heedless of the dead, / And see how the lovers go / To the old wood to find the mistletoe.
An excerpt from “Old Santeclaus” by Clement Clarke Moore “Old Santeclaus with much delight / His reindeer drive this frosty night, / Over chimneys and snow-tracks, / To bring you his annual gifts. / The friend firm of virtuous youth, / The friend of duty and truth, / Each Christmas eve has the joy of arriving / Where love and peace have made their home.
“Love came down at Christmas” by Christina Rossetti “Love came down at Christmas, / Love all lovely, Love divine, / Love was born at Christmas, / The star and the angels gave the signal. / We adore the Deity, / Incarnate Love, Divine Love, / We adore our Jesus, / But why, for a sacred sign? / Love will be our token, / Love will be yours and my love, / love to God and all men, / love for supplication, gift and sign.
An excerpt from “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “I heard the bells on Christmas day / Their old and familiar carols ring, / And wild and sweet / The words repeat / Of peace on earth, good will to men!”
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