It shines a tree of fairy land, All wonderful with rainbow light, And who can fail to understand The meaning of the gracious sight? For splendid is the star above, The songs are such as angels lift, And all the tree is sweet with love -- But ah! it bears no single gift! And so, though bright the tree and tall, And merrily the carols ring, It is a symbol, after all, And rich folks have the real thing. But let us keep the symbol gay, And let it grace each Christmas eve, Till men discern the better way, And righteous Christmastide achieve. No empty shining symbol then, But wealth for all the tree shall bear, And "Peace on earth, good will to men" Shall bring to each his honest share. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POPULAR BALLAD: NEVER FORGET YOUR PARENTS by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS ON CYNTHIA, SINGING A RECITATIVE PIECE OF MUSIC by PHILIP AYRES TO THE RIVER CHERWELL by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES THE ROMAUNT OF THE PAGE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING SONG ON THE EDGE OF WINTER by ANNA SHAW BUCK ON THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM by THOMAS CAREW TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 2. YORK MINISTER by EDWARD CARPENTER |