Classic Poem

On Christmas Eve I lay abed,
With the still night more still
For all the pluming snows that spread
Along our sparkling hill,
And while again to Jesu' stall
Walked wisdom from afar,
I heard another shepherd call
Under the Christmas star.

Along the lane his carol came,
But not of Bethlehem,
A burning boy, he knew a flame,
But not the flame of them:
" This Christmas Eve from courting home
I am a bachelor,
But soon the snows again will come,
And I'll be wed before. "

All one with kings from Bible-page,
And holy shepherds old,
Went yeoman love in pilgrimage
Across the Christmas wold.
" Goodwill, " he sang, " Goodwill, Goodwill, "
Or seemed to me to sing,
While some glad girl beyond the hill
Dreamt of a new-born king.