Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRIST CHILD AT CHRISTMAS by JOHN DRINKWATER

Poet Analysis

First Line: DEAR JESUS, DEAR, MAY I COME IN?
Subject(s): RELIGION;
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star.
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)
The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.


{12373789}

Adieu, adieu, my only sweet,
And thus from thee I part;
Thus willing to renounce the next,
That grew so near my heart.
For as in birds the eagle soars
Above the rest in flight,
So did thy love ascend my love
In height of true delight.


Yet still thy love and all thy parts
Were mingled with such grace,
As when I thought thereon, I deemed
No mortal creature was.


But now, since it hath pleased thee,
Whose will is all in all,
To plague me with the smart that I
Into thy hands let fall;


I will content myself with this,
Though willingly I die,
That I, above all other men,
Enjoyed thee lovingly.


No feigned hope hath fed my love,
No fancy false or vain;
But loathing shall my portion be,
And all my life-long pain.


Then farewell, love, and all thy laws,
For I have no delight
In such a cruel tyranny,
To waste my youth in night.




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