Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LEAST OF CAROLS, by SOPHIE JEWETT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LEAST OF CAROLS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Loveliest dawn of gold and rose
Last Line: "exceedingly."
Alternate Author Name(s): Burroughs, Ellen
Subject(s): Christmas Carols; Universities & Colleges - Faculty; Wellesley College


LOVELIEST dawn of gold and rose
Steals across undrifted snows;
In brown, rustling oak leaves stir
Squirrel, nuthatch, woodpecker;
Brief their matins, but, by noon,
All the sunny wood's a-tune:
Jays, forgetting their harsh cries,
Pipe a spring note, clear and true;
Wheel on angel wings of blue,
Trumpeters of Paradise;
Then the tiniest feathered thing,
All a-flutter, tail and wing,
Gives himself to caroling:

"Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee!
Jesulino, hail to thee!
Lowliest baby born to-day,
Pillowed on a wisp of hay;
King no less of sky and earth,
And singing sea;
Jesu! Jesu! most and least!
For the sweetness of thy birth
Every little bird and beast,
Wind and wave and forest-tree,
Praises God exceedingly,
Exceedingly."





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