Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN BETHLEHEM, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN BETHLEHEM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come back to-day to bethlehem
Last Line: Where yet the angels are!
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Bethlehem, Palestine; Christmas; Jesus Christ - Childhood & Youth; Stars; Nativity, The


COME back to-day to Bethlehem,
The year is on the wane,
A truce to strife that wearies life,
A truce to grief and pain,
Oh, heart return to Bethlehem
And hear its song again!

If siren voices luring thee
Have turned thy thoughts aside,
If thou hast quaffed the bitter draught
Of envy or of pride,
If thou in agony of shame
Hast thy dear Lord denied,

Come back to-day to Bethlehem,
All in the quickening dawn,
With wistful eyes regard the skies
Ere yet the gloom is gone.
Oh, list the song of Bethlehem
Forever pealing on!

Oh, burdened with the weight of sin
And worn with many a care,
Here drop thy load, the sunrise road
Is open at thy prayer.
Return, return to Bethlehem,
The angels wait thee there!

Come back, come back to Bethlehem!
Behold the Virgin's Child
By prophets told in ages old,
The fair, the undefiled!
Lo, peace is born in Bethlehem
To soothe earth's tumults wild.

Come back to-day to Bethlehem!
Though thou hast wandered far,
No rest shall fill thy yearning breast
Until thou see the Star.
Oh, heart return to Bethlehem
Where yet the angels are!





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