CAROL

CAROL                                                                      

                                                                   

I carol a song of a night of stars -                                   

and of skies a midnight blue

of fragile music of young, sweet winds                                                        

that chant the long night through.                                     

                 

Of homely shepherds and sheep I sing,

and of lambs lain down with them;

none on the wide earth glad as these

hillfold of Bethlehem.

And I sing again of the silver snow

on a roadway far and calm,

that laid a white carpet for Joseph grave

and his maid-wife Miriam.

Whose swift young feet knew a rhythmic bliss

to a rapture sudden - near

to miracle-music – a small heart’s beat

which only her heart could hear.

And her sweet lips tense with a sudden joy

lend theme to my carolling,

for only the Spirit’s utter own

dared guess what the night would bring.

And weary of song, when the dawn is up

and the stars have slipped the skies,

well do I know I shall lose my heart

to a Babe with its mother’s eyes.

Sister M Thérèse SDS

Now there is Beauty.  MacMillan.  1940

Used with permission