Christmas Poems

One of the best things about using the beloved Ambleside Online homeschool resource and digging into Charlotte Mason's idea of education is the discovery of poetry. I read (maybe dissected?) poems in junior high and high school because I had to, but never for pure enjoyment and appreciation. I do have fond memories of Shel Silverstein poems in elementary school...but poetry reading every day, for holidays and memorizing special ones? Never before. There's nothing like poetry. Such beauty!

Here are some Christmas poems we are reading this season:

In a Far Land Upon a Day

by Eleanor Farjeon

In a far land upon a day,

Where never snow did fall,

Three kings went riding on the way

Bearing presents all.

And one wore red, and one wore gold,

And one was clad in green,

And one way young, and one was old,

And one was in between.

The middle one had human sense,

The young had loving eyes,

The old had much experience,

And all of them were wise.

Choosing no guide by eve and morn

But heaven’s starry drifts,

They rode to find the Newly-Born

For whom they carried gifts.

Oh, far away in time they rode

Upon their wanderings,

And still in story goes abroad

The riding of the Kings.

So wise, that in their chosen hour,

As through the world they filed,

They sought not wealth or place or power,

But rode to find a child.

---

Christmas Eve

by Christina Rossetti

CHRISTMAS hath darkness
Brighter than the blazing noon,
Christmas hath a chillness
Warmer than the heat of June,
Christmas hath a beauty
Lovelier than the world can show:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.

Earth, strike up your music,
Birds that sing and bells that ring;
Heaven hath answering music
For all Angels soon to sing:
Earth, put on your whitest
Bridal robe of spotless snow:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.

---

Christmas Bells 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

      And wild and sweet

      The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

      Had rolled along

      The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day,

      A voice, a chime,

      A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

      And with the sound

      The Carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

'There is no peace on earth,' I said;

      'For hate is strong,

      And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

      The Wrong shall fail,

      The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Here is more poetry:

https://www.amblesideonline.org/HolidayChristmasPoems.shtml

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Poetry/christmastide_poems_of_christina.htm