Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CHRISTMAS HYMN (OLD STYLE: 1837), by ALFRED DOMETT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: It was the calm and silent night! Last Line: Centuries ago! Variant Title(s): The Nativity;a Christmas Chant Subject(s): Christmas; Religion; Nativity, The; Theology | ||||||||
IT was the calm and silent night! Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might, And now was queen of land and sea. No sound was heard of clashing wars; Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain: Apollo, Pallas, Jove, and Mars Held undisturbed their ancient reign, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago. 'T was in the calm and silent night! The senator of haughty Rome, Impatient, urged his chariot's flight, From lordly revel rolling home; Triumphal arches, gleaming, swell His breast with thoughts of boundness sway; What recked the Roman what befell A paltry province far away, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago? Within that province far away Went plodding home a weary boor; A streak of light before him by, Fallen through a half-shut stable-door Across his path. He Passed -- far naught Told what was going on within; How keen the stars, his only thought; The air how calm and cold and thin, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago! Oh, strange indifference! low and high Drowsed over common joys and cares; The earth was still -- but knew not why; The world was listening, unawares. How calm a moment may precede One that shall thrill the world forever! To that still moment none would heed, Man's doom was linked no more to sever -- In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago! It is the calm and solemn night! A thousand bells ring out, and throw Their joyous peals abroad, and smite The darkness -- charmed and holy now! The night that erst no name had worn, To it a happy name is given; For in that stable lay new-born, The peaceful prince of Earth and Heaven, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A CHRISTMAS HYMN (NEW STYLE: 1875), SELECTION by ALFRED DOMETT |
|