Christmas Poems

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 51, 23 December 1925, Page 32

Christmas Poems

.. - THE GIFTS OF GOD. WsM.;. When the first Christmas presents came, the straw where Christ was rolled .-. Smelt sweeter than their frankincense, burnt .brighter than their gold, And a wise man said "We will not give; the lllr' • thanks would :: be but ' cold." v y ■■■- . ,• * . •" ■■' _ Nay," said the next, "To all new gifts, to ;••' this gift or another, Bends the high gratitude of God, even as He now, my brother, ~ '..Who had a Father for all time, yet thanks *■ Him for a mother. ; ifc'". : : - ''"■'■■■ ' •• ■ ■ "Yet scarce for Him this yellow stone or prickly smells and sparse, '.. •' Who holds the gold heart of the sun that fed these timber bars, Nor any scentless lily lives for One that I - smells the stars." _. ■'..■• Then spoke the third of the Wise Men; the ; . wisest of the three: f; - "We may not with the widest lives enlarge V "' « His liberty, . . ■ Whose wings are wider than the world. It ;."•'-- is not He, but we. - "We say not He has more to gain, but we {. " v have more to lose., .. . >-- Less gold shall go astray, we say, less gold, £\y ; .: . if thus we choose, . Go to make harlots of the Greeks and huckm N sters of the Jews. ; ' : ' ■■>..■.."'''' ,''.'■•• '.'Less clouds before colossal feet redden - in • . the underlight, : ; To the blind gods of Babylon, less incense ■." s burn to-night, • To the high beats of Babylon, whose mouths fhS»,'...■ - make mock of right." Babe of the thousand birthdays, we that are \ White with the centuries, still can find no better thing to say, 'We that with ; sects and ' whims and wars \ r " ~ S have wasted Christmas Day. - * . : (y : Light Thou Thy censer to Thyself, for .all * * __ our fires are dim, J y \ ' Stamp" Thou Thine image on our coin, for - - Caesar's face grows dim, ,-*,-■ " And a dumb devil of pride and greed has Spl^v"-• taken hold of him. . ' I We bring Thee back great.. Christendom, churches, and towns, and towers, And if our hands are glad, 0 God, to cast them down like 'flowers,... 'Tis not that they enrich Thy hands, but they are saved from ours. [them down like flowers, 'Tis not that they enrich Thy hands, but they are saved from ours. - ,' ' ' N Chesterton. '

THE NATIVITY. The thatch oh the, roof wasi golden, s Though dusty the straw was android, ; The wind had a peal as of trumpets, Though blowing and barren and cold, The mother's hair was a glory, -'■":' "" ■ . - Though loosened and torn, "~ " • For under the eaves in the gloaming ' A Child was born; ' " -- / ' And the rafters of toil are still gilded , With the dawn of the star of the heart) And the wise men draw near in the twilight, Who are weary of learning and art,\ And the face of the tyrant is darkened, . • ■< His spirit is torn, For a new King is enthroned; yea, the stern- ■ . est, -' '■■ .'.■'■'■.;' .'*"'" \\ -'■' A Child is born. And the mother still joys for the whispered ' First stir of unspeakable things, Still feels that high moment unfurling " Red glory of Gabriel's wings. Still the Babe of an hour is a. master Whom angels adorn, ;-■.'•' Emmanuel, prophet, anointed, A Child is born. . ... —Chesterton. Sffic , fe :' BETHLEHEM. In a manger old and worn, In the town of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ our Lord was born. Would I had been there to see On the road to Bethlehem; . , Mary, Joseph, pray for me! Eastern Kings are on the'ir way To the town of Bethlehem; Shepherds run ere break of day At His feet their vows to pay In the town of Bethlehem, Where a God Incarnate lay. Would I had been there to see . On the road to Bethlehem; Mary, Joseph, pray for me! Christian souls, with one accord • *....-, Come to Holy Bethlehem; Meet Him at His Holy Board; ..-,. • - Praise the Saviour, praise the Lord, — , . In the town, of Bethlehem. :.,-,." Who on us His glory poured! . v ~- / Would; I had been there to see •-* ' In the town of _ Bethlehem; 5; / Mary, Joseph, pray for me! ' y >' - ;,, R. H. Benson. ..' i ■ " '„ »** , . ' ; The world His cradle is; The stars His worshippers v , , His "place on earth," the mother's kiss ■ • :: V Oh.lips new pressed to hers. .{; J" v ; v

■ (■ . For she alone to Him , In perfect light appears, . , '££- The one horizon never dim ■' -r^ With penitential tears. ,-/ Father Tabb. ( . ** *"~ My God the Baby is | -' - That rests on my knee. •' v Into those eyes of His ". I gaze mine own to see, And He looks up to meet in mine, Reflected all the. love Divine.. A Maid my mother is: -. .VJ And I a sireless Son. No other deed like this . ' " "'"^/ Has Love eternal done— To make her motherhood for Me The mirror of Divinity. , '■ ■ * '. '' —Father" Tabb. ■-' " 3K« '■ ' • Wrapped in His swaddling bands, And in His manger laid, - - " ;'- The hope and glory of all lands " . .;^>u# Is come to the world's aid: ,; No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled, --.:.- Guests rudely went and came, where slept the royal Child. \ '■ • ;.,; ■*"<'■ /■■■■■ - But where Thou dwellest, Lord, No other thought should be, Once duly Welcomed and adored, How should I part with Thee Bethlehem must lose Thee soon, but Thou^^ 1 wilt grace. ..^ The single heart to be Thy sure abiding place. : -|| Still as the day comes round For Thee to be revealed, - v v By wakeful shepherds Thou art found, Abiding in the field. # . '-'\Z. All through the wintry heaven and chill night air, In music and in light Thou dawnest on their - ; prayer. - ' ' " —Keblb. ' v -'; ;m - r \ - •- v ' ~ Art thou a child of tears, v Cradled in care and woe? -> And seems it hard thy vernal year Few vernal joys can show P _ _ And fall the sounds of mirth "- Sad on thy lonely heart, From all the hopes and charms of earth : TJntimely called to part? -;/'- - . > •-'■% Look here and hold thy peace "'"*:: The Giver of all good ■'•>•? E'en from the womb takes no - release From suffering, tears, and blood. . "*> r If, thou wouldst reap in love, _ .First sow in holy fear; ~. "" So life' a winter's morn may prove - *'/'// To a bright endless year. ' s"' — Kbdlb.