Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HYMN: 32. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, by CHRISTOPHER SMART


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HYMN: 32. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where is this stupendous stranger
Last Line: Of the very world he made.
Variant Title(s): The Nativity Of Our Lord;the Nativity Of Our Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ
Subject(s): Christmas; Jesus Christ; Nativity, The


Where is this stupendous stranger,
Swains of Solyma, advise,
Lead me to my Master's manger,
Shew me where my Saviour lies?

O Most Mighty! O Most Holy!
Far beyond the seraph's thought,
Art thou then so mean and lowly
As unheeded prophets taught?

O the magnitude of meekness!
Worth from worth immortal sprung;
O the strength of infant weakness,
If eternal is so young!

If so young and thus eternal,
Michael tune the shepherd's reed,
Where the scenes are ever vernal,
And the loves be love indeed!

See the God blasphemed and doubted
In the schools of Greece and Rome;
See the pow'rs of darkness routed,
Taken at their utmost gloom.

Nature's decorations glisten
Far above their usual trim;
Birds on box and laurel listen,
As so near the cherubs hymn.

Boreas now no longer winters
On the desolated coast;
Oaks no more are riv'n in splinters
By the whirlwind and his host.

Spinks and ouzels sing sublimely,
"We too have a Saviour born;"
Whiter blossoms burst untimely
On the blest Mosaic thorn.

God all-bounteous, all-creative,
Whom no ills from good dissuade
Is incarnate, and a native
Of the very world he made.




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net