Long was the way to Bethlehem To those who sought of old, By burning sands and bitter springs And nights of haunting cold, Bearing their nard and frankincense, Their precious gems and gold. Hard was the way to Bethlehem, So far it seemed, so far, By flowerless vales and arid slopes And barren heights that bar, With ne'er an omen for a guide Until they saw the star. But then the way to Bethlehem, It was no longer lone; Joy was their comrade, those who trod O'er bruising shard and stone, Until they found for king a Child, A manger for his throne. Upon the way to Bethlehem, Till time shall bring release, However dim and rough the path May not our footsteps cease, Since at the end for us awaits The guerdon of his peace! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GARDEN OF LOVE, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE RESOLVE by ALEXANDER BROME RODNEY'S RIDE [JULY 3, 1776] by ELBRIDGE STREETER BROOKS HIS IMMORTALITY by THOMAS HARDY ROME. AT THE PYRAMID OF CESTIUS NEAR THE GRAVES OF SHELLEY by THOMAS HARDY THE ARGUMENT OF HIS BOOK by ROBERT HERRICK THOMAS MACDONAGH by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE |