The thatch on the roof was as golden
Though dusty the straw was and old,
The wind had a peal as of trumpets,
Though blowing and barren and cold,
The mother's hair was a glory
Though loosened and torn,
For under the eaves in the gloaming
A child was born.
Have a countless children been quickened.
Millions of children grown old
Grown gross and unloved and embittered,
Grown cunning and savage and cold?
God abides In patience,
Unangered, unworn,
And again for the child that was squandered
A child is born.
What know we of eons behind us,
Dim dynasties lost long ago,
Huge empires, like dreams unremembered,
Huge cities for ages laid low?
at least with blight and with blessing
With flower and with thorn,
Love was there, and his cry was among them,
"A child is born."
the rafters of toil still are gilded
With the dawn of the star of the heart,
And the wise men draw near in the twilight,
Who are weary of learning and art,
the face of the tyrant is darkened.
His spirit is torn,
For a new King is enthroned
A child is born.
the mother still joys for the whispered
First stir of unspeakable things,
Still feels that high moment unfurling
Red glory of Gabriel's wings.
the babe of an hour is a master
Whom angels adorn,
Emmanuel, prophet, anointed,
A child is born.
little one still in the cradle,
The sun being crown for thy brow.
Make answer, our flesh, make an answer,
For whay did you come to us now
have you come to the earth for our teaching
To heal and to train and to warn
How will we kmow, knowing only
A child is born.
Though dusty the straw was and old,
The wind had a peal as of trumpets,
Though blowing and barren and cold,
The mother's hair was a glory
Though loosened and torn,
For under the eaves in the gloaming
A child was born.
Have a countless children been quickened.
Millions of children grown old
Grown gross and unloved and embittered,
Grown cunning and savage and cold?
God abides In patience,
Unangered, unworn,
And again for the child that was squandered
A child is born.
What know we of eons behind us,
Dim dynasties lost long ago,
Huge empires, like dreams unremembered,
Huge cities for ages laid low?
at least with blight and with blessing
With flower and with thorn,
Love was there, and his cry was among them,
"A child is born."
the rafters of toil still are gilded
With the dawn of the star of the heart,
And the wise men draw near in the twilight,
Who are weary of learning and art,
the face of the tyrant is darkened.
His spirit is torn,
For a new King is enthroned
A child is born.
the mother still joys for the whispered
First stir of unspeakable things,
Still feels that high moment unfurling
Red glory of Gabriel's wings.
the babe of an hour is a master
Whom angels adorn,
Emmanuel, prophet, anointed,
A child is born.
little one still in the cradle,
The sun being crown for thy brow.
Make answer, our flesh, make an answer,
For whay did you come to us now
have you come to the earth for our teaching
To heal and to train and to warn
How will we kmow, knowing only
A child is born.