Scripture Verse

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7–8

Introduction

portrait
Gustav T. Holst (1874–1934)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: Chris­ti­na Ros­set­ti, 1872. She wrote these words at the re­quest of Scrib­ner’s Month­ly ma­ga­zine for a Christ­mas po­em.

Music: Cran­ham Gus­tav T. Holst, 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Christina Rossetti
1830–1894

Lyrics

illustration
Winter in Switzerland
Jasper F. Cropsey
1823–1900

In the bleak mid­win­ter,
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as ir­on,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fall­en, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid­win­ter
Long ago.

Our God, Heav’n can­not hold Him,
Nor earth sus­tain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign;
In the bleak mid­win­ter
A sta­ble place suf­ficed
The Lord God Al­migh­ty
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom che­ru­bim,
Worship night and day,
A breast­ful of milk,
And a man­ger­ful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom an­gels
Fall down be­fore,
The ox and ass and ca­mel
Which adore.

Angels and arch­an­gels
May have ga­thered there,
Cherubim and se­ra­phim
Thronged the air;
But on­ly His mo­ther
In her maid­en bliss,
Worshipped the Be­lov­èd
Wth a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shep­herd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him:
Give my heart.