CAROL

CAROL

When winter stars above do beam
Their clear and clustered light,
Then blessed Yuletide will beseem
Each deep December night.

O for merry songs on frosty days!
O for festive fare and snowy ways!

When wreaths and garlands green appear,
Festooning wall and hearth,
Then Christmas joys are drawing near
In homage to a Birth.

O for darkling skies and lighted panes!
O for icy pools in frozen lanes!

Now through the gloomed and shadowed
streets
The shoppers come their way,
Attracted by the offered treats
To buy for Christmas Day.

O for holly sprigs in doorways hung!
O for candled trees and carols sung!

With every hour to Christmas full
Of longing for that Eve,
In drowsy dream and musing lull
The Message we receive.

O for warming wines and slippered feet!
O for mistletoe and kisses sweet!

The King of bliss, Who from that realm
In Heaven's highest halls,
Did come to dwell in lesser home,
Now every spirit calls.

O for folk to humbly worship Him!
O for light on eyes all darkly dim!

The pagans hailed the shortest day
With festival and mirth,
Believing local gods to sway
All issues of this earth.

O for fire in hearth that flickers red!
O for brimming cup and warming bed!

Their minds were not entirely veiled--
And every folk who dwelt
Before the coming of the Child
Had gleams of God in stealth.

O for country cates in ancient halls!
O for friendly board when darkness falls!

Thus right were they to celebrate
Return of day from dark,
Acclaiming sweet-ascending light;
(A symbol of Christ's work.)

O for hill and tree and lonely field!
O for fragrant herbs and hurts all healed!

All praise to Him Who reigns, the One
In majesty sublime,
The Fashioner of sea and stone
And Giver of our time.

O for walking wintry ways at dawn!
O for crackly frost on leaf and lawn!

O for merry joys that long remain!
O for jolly Christmas time again!

~ Stanley ~

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