A STAR-EYED child of Judah's line Watched, in the wintry day's decline — A loving child whose shepherd sire Was first to heed the heavenly choir As swelled the song o'er hill and glen, On earth be peace, good will toward men — Watched by the manger-cave to see With reverent steps the wise men three Their camels leave, and entering, With rapture greet the new-born King; While myrrh and frankincense and gold Borne far across the wintry wold, With blessings at his feet they laid. Then, sorrowful, the little maid Turned to behold the sunset fall On Bethlehem's plain and Moab's wall, And grieved for empty hands, and sighed, 'Ah me! the world is rich and wide, But birds are flown and fields are bare, And not one gift of earth or air Have I, dear God, to offer Him!' And then her starry eyes grew dim, And tears dropped fast — when lo! there sprung Where warm they fell the sands among, Green leaves that stainless bloom disclose — 'See! God has sent a flower!' she said, And for a moment bowed her head; Then bore the Babe the Christmas Rose. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE POLAR QUEST by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON HOW VIOLETS CAME BLUE by ROBERT HERRICK TO GIOVANNI DA PISTOIA ON THE PAINTING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL, 1509 by MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI SONNET: 23. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE by JOHN MILTON A SWEET NOSEGAY: AUTHOR MAKETH HER WILL & TESTAMENT: A COMMUNICATION . by ISABELLA WHITNEY DRINKING; PARAPHRASED by ANACREON |