A Christmas Carol

Christina Rossetti 1830 (London) – 1894 (London)



The Shepherds had an Angel,
The Wise Men had a star,
But what have I, a little child,
     To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together
     And singing angels are?

Those Shepherds through the lonely night
     Sat watching by their sheep,
Until they saw the heavenly host
     Who neither tire nor sleep,
All singing “Glory, glory,”
     In festival they keep.

The Wise Men left their country
     To journey morn by morn,
With gold and frankincense and myrrh,
     Because the Lord was born:
God sent a star to guide them
     And sent a dream to warn.

My life is like their journey,
     Their star is like God’s book;
I must be like those good Wise Men
     With heavenward heart and look:
But shall I give no gifts to God?—
     What precious gifts they took!
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Submitted by halel on July 15, 2020

Modified on April 04, 2023

41 sec read
69

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXABA XCXCDC DEBEXE DFXFXF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 762
Words 138
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6

Christina Rossetti

Christina Georgina Rossetti (5 December 1830 – 29 December 1894) was an English poet who wrote various romantic, devotional, and children's poems. more…

All Christina Rossetti poems | Christina Rossetti Books

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