Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
“Come; see the oxen kneel,
“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,”
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
Gorgeous! Thanks Sarah. Have a lovely Christmas 💛
I don’t think I have ever read that poem! Any Hardy poetry I read was long ago as an undergraduate (so much emphasis on his prose in those courses). But no doubt I appreciate it much more now than I would have then!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
(PS we have the gift of our first grandchild this year—just a couple of weeks old!)