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SuzanneG
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I have very good memories of my dad reciting some of his favorite Christmas poems during the month of December. He loves good poetry and although not a practicing Christian, he truly appreciated the beauty and depth of Nativity Poetry. Even though we never "memorized" any of it on purpose, some lines have been forever etched into my mind.
Our library system finally bought this wonderful collection of Christmas poems that I have wanted to see for several years, and I'm very moved and impressed:
O Holy Night: Masterworks of Christmas Poetry, published by Sophia Institute Press. It's a great collection!
It is divided into 4 sections: Advent, Blessed Virgin Mary, Bethlehem and the Magi.
Chesterton, Pope, Claudel, Wilde, Donne, Yeats, Chaucer, St. Bonaventure, St. Teresa, Coleridge, Rossetti are some of the poets selected.
Here is one of my favorites:
THE BURNING BABE, by Robert Southwell
As I in hoary winter's night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow ;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear ;
Who, scorchėd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I !
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns ;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men's defilėd souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I callėd unto mind that it was Christmas day.
Also, this book is finally being re-printed! My library has an old copy that I've checked out every year, and I have wanted to buy it, but it has been very costly on ebay, etc. So, there is now a reprint by Forgotten Books:
Fifty Christmas Poems for Children, originally published in 1923, 1976 by Florence Hyett.
The poems in here are great for memorizing and reading out loud for children.
We are memorizing these two this year:
Song, by Eugene Field
Why do the bells of Christmas ring?
Why do little children sing?
Once a lovely shining star,
Seen by shepherds from afar,
Gently moved until its light
Made a manger's cradle bright.
There a darling baby lay,
Pillowed soft upon the hay;
And its mother sung and smiled:
"This is Christ, the holy Child!"
Therefore bells for Christmas ring.
Therefore little children sing.
There are more of Eugene Field's Christmas Poems here.
Carol, by William Canton
When the herds were watching
In the midnight chill,
Came a spotless lambkin
From the heavenly hill.
Snow was on the mountains,
And the wind was cold,
When from God's own garden
Dropped a rose of gold.
When 'twas bitter winter,
Houseless and forlorn
In a star-lit stable
Christ the Babe was born.
Welcome, heavenly lambkin;
Welcome, golden rose;
Alleluia, Baby,
In the swaddling clothes!
Any Christmas collections/anthologies that you enjoy and would recommend?
Any poems that you/dc/family is enjoying or memorizing to prepare for the Christmas Season? Please share!
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Dec 15 2008 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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Suzanne,
I love Christmas poetry.
I grew up with my mother reading:
"Jest 'Fore Christmas" by Eugene Field
Here is the CHC link to the "Burning Babe" (Southwell) and a poem by G.K. Chesterton "A Child of the Snows" with a beautiful piece of artwork by Mary MacArthur: CHC Free Christmas Poetry (PDF file)
I printed this out today and read them with my religion class at co-op.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Bridget
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Monica's homeschool class just recited The Burning Babe for part of their Christmas event. I loved it!
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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acystay
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Not a Catholic poem at all or collection, but we've enjoyed reading The Foolish Fir Tree by Henry Van Dyke.
http://www.carols.org.uk/foolish-fir-tree-henry-van-dyck.htm
Poke a bit around the site too. Some great things on carols and poems and such.
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SuzanneG
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Bumping.....anyone want to add a favorite Christmas Poem?
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Mackfam
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I just linked this in another thread, Lauren Ford has a lovely collection of Christmas poetry.
An absolutely lovely OOP poetry book worth finding is Welcome Christmas: A Garland of Poems by Anne Thaxter Eaton, published in 1954. Beautiful poetry here!!! I did find the full text of the book online. Worth checking out!
Another treasured book for poetry and is Christmas in Prose and Verse: Its Origin, Celebration and Significance edited by Allison C. Putalla.
A few of our favorites:
How Far is it to Bethlehem
by Frances Chesterton (wife of G.K. Chesterton)
How far is it to Bethlehem?
Not very far.
Shall we find the stable-room
Lit by a star?
Can we see the little Child?
Is He within?
If we lift the wooden latch,
May we go in?
May we stroke the creatures there
Ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them and see
Jesus asleep?
If we touch His tiny hand,
Will He awake?
Will He know we've come so far
Just for His sake?
Great kings have precious gifts,
And we have naught;
Little smiles and little tears
Are all we brought.
For all weary children
Mary must weep;
Here, on His bed of straw,
Sleep, children, sleep.
God, in His mother's arms,
Babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find
Their heart's desire.
In the Bleak Midwinter
by Christina Rosetti
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, heaven 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 incarnate,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day
A breast full of milk
And a manger full 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 his mother only,
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.
Neighbors of the Christ Night
by Nora Archibald Smith
Deep in the shelter of the cave,
The ass with drooping head
Stood weary in the shadow, where
His master's hand had led.
About the manger oxen lay,
Bending a wide-eyed gaze
Upon the little new-born Babe,
Half worship, half amaze.
High in the roof the doves were set,
And cooed there, soft and mild,
Yet not so sweet as, in the hay,
The Mother to her Child.
The gentle cows breathed fragrant breath
To keep Babe Jesus warm,
While loud and clear, o'er hill and dale,
The cocks crowed, "Christ is born!"
Out in the fields, beneath the stars,
The young lambs sleeping lay,
And dreamed that in the manger slept
Another small as they.
* * * * * * *
These were Thy neighbors, Christmas Child;
To Thee their love was given,
For in Thy baby face there shone
The wonder-light of Heaven.
The Christmas Silence
by Margaret Deland
Hushed are the pigeons cooing low
On dusty rafters of the loft;
And mild-eyed oxen, breathing soft,
Sleep on the fragrant hay below.
Dim shadows in the corner hide;
The glimmering lantern's rays are shed
Where one young lamb just lifts his head,
Then huddles 'gainst his mother's side.
Strange silence tingles in the air;
Through the half-open door a bar
Of light from one low-hanging star
Touches a baby's radiant hair.
No sound: the mother, kneeling, lays
Her cheek against the little face.
Oh human love! Oh heavenly grace!
'Tis yet in silence that she prays!
Ages of silence end to-night;
Then to the long-expectant earth
Glad angels come to greet His birth
In burst of music, love, and light!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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DominaCaeli
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Another anthology that is online:
Florence B. Hyett's Fifty Christmas Poems for Children at Google Books
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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teachingmyown
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SuzanneG wrote:
I have very good memories of my dad reciting some of his favorite Christmas poems during the month of December. He loves good poetry and although not a practicing Christian, he truly appreciated the beauty and depth of Nativity Poetry. Even though we never "memorized" any of it on purpose, some lines have been forever etched into my mind.
Our library system finally bought this wonderful collection of Christmas poems that I have wanted to see for several years, and I'm very moved and impressed:
O Holy Night: Masterworks of Christmas Poetry, published by Sophia Institute Press. It's a great collection!
It is divided into 4 sections: Advent, Blessed Virgin Mary, Bethlehem and the Magi.
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I actually have two extra copies of this book that are new if anyone is looking to buy a copy.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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donnalynn
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Thank-you for all the suggestions above. Here's one of my favorites - I love story poems -
The Willow Man
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donnalynn
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Stephanie_Q
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I can't find this at the link you gave, but saw that Holy Heroes has this collection for $9.95.
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Stephaniedh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Christmas Poetry
