In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti
Whew! I’m back in Austin, and my time with family and friends was not conducive to spending much time online. I had a great time, though, and I hope everyone else’s holidays are blessed, as well. Though it’s neither bleak, nor really midwinter here in Austin, we sang this in church this morning, so I thought I’d post it.
In the Bleak Midwinter
By Christina Rossetti
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Current Tea: ginger lime rooibos
This is probably my wife’s favorite hymn. I had forgotten that they were C. Rossetti’s words, If indeed I ever knew. Thank you!
It is a wonderful hymn. I first fell in love with it when my HS choir sang it at the Christmas concert one year. I think a choral arrangement of this hymn is absolutely lovely.