Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHRISTMAS ROSE, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHRISTMAS ROSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A star-eyed child of judah's line
Last Line: Then bore the babe the christmas rose.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Subject(s): Christmas; Flowers; Gifts & Giving; Jesus Christ; Roses; Nativity, The


A STAR-EYED child of Judah's line
Watched, in the wintry day's decline —
A loving child whose shepherd sire
Was first to heed the heavenly choir
As swelled the song o'er hill and glen,
On earth be peace, good will toward men —
Watched by the manger-cave to see
With reverent steps the wise men three
Their camels leave, and entering,
With rapture greet the new-born King;
While myrrh and frankincense and gold
Borne far across the wintry wold,
With blessings at his feet they laid.
Then, sorrowful, the little maid
Turned to behold the sunset fall
On Bethlehem's plain and Moab's wall,
And grieved for empty hands, and sighed,
'Ah me! the world is rich and wide,
But birds are flown and fields are bare,
And not one gift of earth or air
Have I, dear God, to offer Him!'
And then her starry eyes grew dim,
And tears dropped fast — when lo! there sprung
Where warm they fell the sands among,
Green leaves that stainless bloom disclose —
'See! God has sent a flower!' she said,
And for a moment bowed her head;
Then bore the Babe the Christmas Rose.





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