Christmas Verse II

These words come from one of my favorite Christmas carols. The words get me every time- and no, I did not write them. I also did not write the last poem I shared, but thanks for thinking I did! Click here to watch and hear a recording of this song, written by John Rutter.

What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this, our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this day,
That sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter's morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
'Tis he is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours,
Who with his sunshine and his showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.
The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room to welcome him.
The nobler part of all the house here,
Is the heart.

Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour, who's our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.

What sweeter music can be bring,
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?

-Robert Herrick (1591-1674)