O TAKE away the mistletoe And bring the holly berry, For all the lads are gone away And all the girls look sad to-day, There's no one left with them to play, And only birds and babes and things unknowing Dare be merry. Then take away the mistletoe And bring the holly berry. But oh its leaves are fresh and green, Why bring the holly berry? Because it wears the red, red hue, The colour to the season true, When war must have his tribute due, And only birds and babes and things unknowing Can be merry. So take away the mistletoe, Yet keep the holly berry. And shall we never see again Aught but the holly berry? Yes, after sacrifice sublime, When rings some later Christmas chime, When dawns the new and better time, Not only birds and babes and things unknowing Shall be merry, But you shall see the mistletoe Twined with the holly berry. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ITYLUS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE GOD SAVE THE NATION! by THEODORE TILTON HE GIVES HIS BELOVED CERTAIN RHYMES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS MARGARET FULLER by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT GREENES FUNERALLS: SONNET 8 by RICHARD BARNFIELD ON THE MASSACRE by CHAIM NACHMAN BIALIK |