Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BIRDS OF BETHLEHEM, by RICHARD WATSON GILDER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BIRDS OF BETHLEHEM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I heard the bells of bethlehem ring
Last Line: Bethlehem, holy week, I'96.
Subject(s): Bethlehem, Palestine


I HEARD the bells of Bethlehem ring --
Their voice was sweeter than the priests';
I heard the birds of Bethlehem sing
Unbidden in the churchly feasts.

They clung and sung on the swinging chain
High in the dim and incensed air;
The priests, with repetitions vain,
Chanted a never-ending prayer.

So bell and bird and priest I heard,
But voice of bird was most to me;
It had no ritual, no word,
And yet it sounded true and free.

I thought Child Jesus, were he there,
Would like the singing birds the best,
And clutch his little hands in air
And smile upon his mother's breast.
BETHLEHEM, Holy Week, I'96.





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