Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BALLAD OF CHRISTMAS, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BALLAD OF CHRISTMAS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was about the deep of night
Last Line: And judas one of three.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Christmas; Ghosts; Jesus Christ - Legends; Judas Iscariot (d. 30 A.d.); Pilate, Pontius; Supernatural; Nativity, The


IT was about the deep of night,
And still was earth and sky,
When 'neath the moonlight dazzling bright,
Three ghosts came riding by.

Beyond the sea, beyond the sea,
Lie kingdoms for them all:
I wot their steeds trod wearily—
The journey was not small.

By rock and desert, sand and stream,
They footsore late did go:
Now like a sweet and blessed dream
Their path was deep with snow.

Shining like hoar-frost, rode they on,
Three ghosts in earth's array:
It was about the hour when wan
Night turns at hint of day.

Oh, but their hearts with woe distraught
Hailed not the wane of night,
Only for Jesu still they sought
To wash them clean and white.

For bloody was each hand, and dark
With death each orbless eye;—
It was three traitors mute and stark
Came riding silent by.

Silver their raiment and their spurs,
And silver-shod their feet,
And silver-pale each face that stares
Into the moonlight sweet.

And he upon the left that rose
Was Pilate, Prince of Rome,
Whose journey once lay far abroad
And now was nearing home.

And he upon the right that rode
Herod of Salem sate,
Whose mantle dipped in children's blood
Shone clear as Heaven's gate.

And he these twain betwixt that rode
Was clad as white as wool,
Dyed in the Mercy of his God
White was he crown to sole.

Throned mid a myriad saints in bliss
Rise shall the Babe of Heaven
To shine on these three ghosts, I wis,
Smit thro' with sorrows seven.

Babe of the Blesséd Trinity
Shall smile their steeds to see:
Herod and Pilate riding by,
And Judas one of three.





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