In the bleak midwinter

And, because this is something of a Christina Rossetti appreciation blog, I thought I'd post a winter poem of hers also. This is essentially a Christmas poem, but as that doesn't fall in winter for us in Southern climes, such that this poem is rarely heard, or the carol rarely sung, I thought I'd post it now. I don't believe it actually snows in Bethlehem, but we can forgive her for that, knowing that it would have been colder in that stable than an Australian summer.

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

— by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter

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 mid-winter

Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

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 Beloved

With 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.