,the ,little ,grey ,lamb ,and ,other ,christmas ,poems ,,by ,,herbert ,h4 ,,gowen ,,morehouse ,,publishing ,,co4 ,,milwaukee1 ,,wis4 ,a4 ,r4 ,,mowbray ,,co4 ,,london ,,copyright ,,by ,,morehouse ,,publishing ,,co4 #aibh ,contents ,foreword ,the ,christmas ,message ,i4 ,the ,little ,grey ,lamb ,,ii4 ,jerusalem1 #aiag ,,iii4 ,the ,quest of the ,christ ,,iv4 ,what the ,wise ,men ,saw ,v4 ,under ,which ,sign8 ,,vi4 ,through the ,windows ,,vii4 ,over the ,house-,tops ,,viii4 ,shepherds of ,men ,,ix4 ,no ,room in the ,inn ,x4 ,mother and ,child ,,xi4 ,the ,vision of the ,kings ,,xii4 ,a ,prayer for the ,new ,year ,foreword ,it has been a habit of mine1 for some years1 to send an annual ,christmas greeting to my friends in the form of a little poem4 ,of the following selections most have been published in the annual ,christmas number of the ,town-,crier of ,seattle1 whose editors kindly permit their reproduction4 ,they are reprinted because some have liked one or other of the poems sufficiently well to request this2 also because ,i feel that the treatment of the ,christmas story may be fresh enough and varied enough to win the liking of some others4 ,h4,h4,g4 ,the ,christmas ,message ,the story is told that when ,king ,edward ,i of ,england sought to reconcile the ,welsh people to his rule he presented to the assembled chiefs his baby son1 just born in ,caernarvon ,castle1 as a native son of ,wales to be their prince4 ,the king manifested in the act a very sound appreciation of what is1 according to the ,christmas story1 the heart of the divine method for reconciling a rebellious world to ,god4 ,for the divine fact which makes the ,christmas festival so dear to all alike1 and draws together them that are afar off and them that are nigh is nothing less than that the ,child who comes to reign in a world of human hearts is truly named the ,son of ,man4 ,that the jarring interests of a warring world may be brought together in one common devotion to the best is always plain when we substitute the child attitude for the selfish and sophisticated ideas of men soiled by too long contact with material things4 ,and when men return to the child mind1 with its simplicity1 its purity1 and its ready response to love1 the world will certainly be a little nearer to that emulous heaven which yearns downward to touch the earth as the earth at ,christmas time seems to be doing its best to reach the skies4 ,the celebration of such a truth is the best antidote for the horrible doctrine of an absentee ,god and of a humanity left to wander unaided in the dark4 ,in the great temple1 ,shi ,tenno-ji1 in ,osaka1 is the shrine of the ,guiding ,bell4 ,the rope is made up of the bibs of dead children1 and little ,japanese go thither in order that by ringing the bell they may help and be helped along the road to ,paradise4 ,the ,christmas bells are always guiding bells to all mankind4 ,wherever they ring1 whether they sound only in the imagination which carries us back to the days of long ago1 they summon man unfailingly to a ,paradise wherein all may become as little children in the spirit of faith and hope and love4 ,and wherever these bells are heard the heart will never cease to sing and dance away the dust of the world and charm men from the sordidness which keeps us back from entry within the gates of gold4 ,a little child shall lead them--this is the veridical prophecy of the good days to come4 ,in fulfilment of such a prophecy let us share the good-heartedness and charity of the ,christmas season4 ,let us lend our ears to hear once more the song which1 though it comes from heaven through the voice of angels1 has its message for the souls of men on earth4 ,let us turn our backs upon the selfish and the discordant till the angelic anthem is echoed back with human voice to the ,throne of ,god4 ,then heaven and earth shall have become one indeed4 ,i4 ,the ,little ,grey ,lamb ,founded upon an old legend ,the ,little ,grey ,lamb ,a simple tale of long ago1 ,how the little grey lamb became white as snow4 ,on ,bethlehem's hills on a winter night1 ,shepherds kept watch in the cold star-light4 ,the sheep1 safely folded1 were fast asleep3 ,there was nought to trouble their slumber deep4 ,but one little grey lamb was filled with woe ,for he longed to be white as the winter snow4 ,then sudden the heavens grew bright like noon1 ,with a light which was neither of sun nor moon4 ,and music rained down ineffably sweet1 ,as the shepherds sprang to their trembling feet4 ,but the sheep slumbered on through that wonderful night1 ,save the little grey lamb who longed to be white4 ,then forth from the skies came an angel's voice3 ,good tidings1 ye shepherds6 ,god bids you rejoice4 ,in ,bethlehem's inn the ,child ye shall see1 ,who is born to make all men happy and free4 ,then swiftly they journeyed the ,christ ,child to find1 ,and the little grey lamb followed closely behind4 ,from his little white heart rose a timid prayer3 ,is it only for men1 ,o ,baby most fair1 ,thou hast cleansing from all that is sinful and bad8 ,wilt ,thou not heal me and make me glad8 ,so he followed the shepherds and entered with them1 ,when they came to the stable of ,bethlehem4 ,they entered1 they worshipped1 and homeward returned1 ,while a solemn joy in their bosoms burned3 ,but the little grey lamb nestled close in the hay1 ,quite close to the crib where the ,baby lay4 ,and a tiny hand stole forth from the bed1 ,and rested awhile on the little lamb's head4 ,at that touch there passed a wonderful thrill ,through the lamb as he lay by the crib so still3 ,he felt all his sadness melting away1 ,as the night mists scatter at break of day4 ,the little grey lamb in that holy glow ,knew he was white as the driven snow4 99 99 99 ,may the ,christ ,child today this blessing bestow1 ,that the lambs of ,his flock be made whiter than snow6 ,,ii4 ,jerusalem1 #aiag ,no incident of the ,great ,war gripped the imagination of the ,christian world so much as the taking of ,jerusalem in ,december1 #aiag1 by ,general 7,lord7 ,allenby4 ,though an incident in war1 it yet had in it the promise of peace1 since no shot was fired against the ,holy ,city and the victorious commander entered the city on foot without parade of war4 ,jerusalem #aiag ,o ,mother1 with the halo round thy brow1 ,yet conscious of the ,cross which looms so near-- ,what is the grim surprise which greets thee now8 ,what spectre grips thy maiden heart with fear8 ,what is it that1 with half-averted face1 ,thou seest sweep across the holy land1 ,where all the towers and domes of ,david's race ,from age to age in silent witness stand8 ,how ill1 meseems1 become those sacred fields ,the tramp of warriors and the blast of war1 ,the gleam of steel and shock of swords and shields1 ,the noise of cannon booming from afar6 ,is this the peace the angels sang when high ,the glory burst upon the shepherds lone8 ,is this the promised dawn when all the sky ,flamed with good news from ,heaven's ,almighty ,throne8 ,yet constant shines the ,star from out the dark1 ,heaven's finger touching earth with silvery ray4 ,though ,time tell of despair and misery stark1 ,eternity assures us of the day4 ,o ,mother with the sword within thy breast1 ,the ,child ,divine within thine arms may see1 ,e'en from thy lap1 the issue sure1 the rest ,for man appointed after victory4 ,and when1 in later years1 ,he shall ascend ,the painful ,cross1 ,he shall be satisfied1 ,and all the travail and the strife shall blend ,in manhood1 saved1 redeemed1 beatified4 ,o ,child1 in ,mother's arms thus nurs'd and held1 ,give us from love like her's to wake and rise1 ,till from the ,cross we see the dark dispell'd1 ,the ,city of ,god descending from the skies4 ,give us ,thy courage firm1 ,thy patience long1 ,thy willingness to suffer for the right2 ,o give us of ,thy faith1 ,thy love so strong1 ,the vision of the victory of the right4 ,jerusalem1 encompassed with arms1 ,shall yet become the city of the free1 ,and discord1 hatred1 war1 and war's alarms ,shall disappear for all eternity4 ,,iii4 ,the ,quest of the ,christ ,the picture this poem was intended to illustrate represents one in vision beholding the ,wise ,men on their camels journeying towards the goal of their quest4 ,the ,quest of the ,christ ,in the dark night1 while all around me sleep1 ,my questing thoughts go backward through the years1 ,to find and bring some worthy thing ,shall waken life from out its slumber deep-- ,shall scatter lowering clouds of doubts and fears1 ,and crown ,love ,king4 ,taking old forms from tales of days long dead1 ,like slow beasts padding softly through the night-- ,yet1 far or nigh1 ,i shall descry ,somewhere my ,bethlehem--so piloted ,by tinkling bells of hope that catch the light ,of star-lit sky4 ,i know not where my search for ,christ shall end-- ,the kings and priests ,i question answer not4 ,perhaps their will is still to kill3-- ,perchance ,he seeks to walk with me as friend3-- ,or1 all unknown1 shares the despised one's lot1 ,rejected still4 ,yet am ,i sure that ,i shall know the sign2 ,my heart shall wake and cry3 ,this--,this is ,he6 ,him shall ,i find1 however blind ,and slow to recognize the hand divine4 ,he shall ,his own unfailing witness be3-- ,him shall ,i find4 ,and1 oh1 what joy the news abroad to speed1 ,that men from sorrow as from toil who sleep ,may hear the song that ,heaven's throng ,brings down to earth1 and so be comforted ,for woes that make strong men like women weep1 ,and all the wrong4 ,then all the dark shall melt into the dawn2 ,like jewels of the ,new ,jerusalem1 ,earth's streets shall shine with light divine1 ,and all her roof-tops gladden with the morn2 ,then every home shall be a ,bethlehem ,where ,christ is born4 ,,iv4 ,what the ,wise ,men ,saw ,founded upon an old legend ,what the ,wise ,men ,saw ,back to their homes returned1 the ,wise ,men three ,reported on the ,king they went to see4 ,said they3 ,the star our guide1 the ,king we found2 ,now are we hither come ,his praise to sound4 ,then said the ,wisest of them all3 ',tis well2 ,what was ,he like8 ,first let the youngest tell4 ,what was ,he like8 ,why1 this my task ,is surely easy1 answering what you ask4 ,he was so young3 ,his was the spirit of youth1 ,ardent and hopeful1 forward-faced2 in truth1 ,his courage seemed to leap from height to height1 ,like golden sunshine driving back the night4 ,so ,i my beating heart obeyed2 ,my fine gold at ,his feet ,i laid4 ,and you1 our next in years1 what did you see ,in this your ,king8 ,pray1 tell1 what like was ,he8 ,what was ,he like8 ,yea1 sir1 although ,not as my brother saw ,him saw ,i so4 ,his was our manhood's prime2 from out ,his eyes ,experience looked1 and wisdom3 sacrifice ,waited the altar whereon lifted high1 ,bruised but not crushed1 ,he saw ,his destiny4 ,so drew ,i incense from my store1 ,bruised too1 but odorous the more4 ,well said6 ,but you1 our eldest1 tell us1 pray3 ,what was ,he like8 ,how saw you ,him that day8 ,what was ,he like8 ,i saw ,him sage ,with all the gifts that spring from ripest age2 ,eyes that beheld the eternal2 youth and prime ,both clean forgot1 with all the things of time2 ,beyond all earthly effort1 passion1 strife2 ,beyond all heart-ache1 pain or lust of life4 ,i could not ,him my myrrh deny1 ,in readiness with ,him to die4 ,then some1 less wise than meet1 looked up and smiled4 ,surely1 they said1 our brethren were beguiled1 ,and took1 for all their questing1 but the thing ,in their own hearts for ,him1 the ,lord1 the ,king4 ,nay1 ,nay6 the ,wisest answered2 for ,i deem ,the ,king fulfils for each his dearest dream1 ,hear me1 for though these mortal eyes are blind1 ,within my soul ,i seem the ,king to find4 ,as in a mirror's polished face ,the lineaments of him that looks you trace1 ,so in the ,king reflected back you see ,the likelihood of all you fain would be3 ,the all beyond your all1 the goal ,of every striving of your soul4 ,whate'er your age or station be1 ,he looketh eye to eye1 so that you see ,the very self of self which ,god did plan ,when first ,he said3 ',behold1 ,i make a man4' ,and with the vision given is the dower ,of the ,king's own communicable power4 ,v4 ,under ,which ,sign8 ,on the one hand is a world of material things1 a murky1 smoke-dominated world in which men struggle and hate and fight4 ,on the other side of the picture a star shines over the place where the ,christ ,child lies as the prophet and earnest of the good time to come4 ,under ,which ,sign8 ,watchman1 what of the night8 ,what of the day that's to dawn8 ,is it bale-fire1 battle1 and blood8 ,is it hate in a land forlorn8 ,is it benison1 brotherhood1 peace--peace to the near and the far8 ,shall the earth with its phantoms beguile1 or ,god utter ,himself through ,his star8 ,blow1 ,o ye winds of heaven1 mighty the dark to dispel6 ,shine1 star of hope1 on our world1 vexed with delusions of hell6 ,lure of the delved ore1 mock-sun of our low estate6 ,shadowed1 time-born and time-doomed1 on the hell-gendered smoke-clouds of hate6 ,shalt thou win for thy gloom-spread realm the limitless vault of the sky8 ,with thy will-o-the-wisp wilt thou quench the lights of ,eternity8 ,shall thy angels proclaim from beneath the coming kingship of wrong8 ',glory of hate and ill-will6'--,shall this be our ,christmas song8 ,rout of poor1 purblind souls3 ,have ye found your ,bethlehem here-- ,godless1 and brotherless1 fighting1 in shame and sorrow and fear8 ,with your dollar for star would ye seek the goal of your heart's desire8 ,greet1 as ye bloodily battle1 the victor as king and ,messiah8 ,trample the noble and pure into slush to proclaim yourselves free8 ,is your struggle success at the last1 your victory liberty8 ,dark beyond all the dark6 ,deep ,heart of ,eternity1 ,whence streameth the starlight divine1 from bounds of infinity6 ,love that beats in the dark--beats and breaks through from afar6 ,passionate purpose of ,god1 breaking through in the signalling star6 ,omnipotent ,love1 finding voice in evangel insistent as strong1 ,streaming forth for our earth in angelical presence and song6 ,child1 with the out-stretched arms and heaven-uplifted eyes6 ,to ,thy pure heart alone comes the message of the skies4 ,yet out of thy joy shalt thou speak2 yea1 to all the world shalt thou cry3 ,turn ye1 ,o perishing fools6 ,o turn ye1 why will ye die8 ,see1 'yond the rolling clouds shines the coming kingdom of peace1 ,where all men shall mingle as brothers and wars and discords shall cease6 ,child6 ,nay1 ,prophet6 we hail thee--,lord of the future age6 ,in a world of the sightless1 seeing2 in a world of the foolish1 sage6 ,faint not nor fail in thy witness1 though the world around thee grow old2 ,let not thy faith grow feeble2 ,o let not thy love grow cold6 ,interpret the times to our time2 interpret thy hope to the race4 ,that the glory which shines in thine eyes may illumine humanity's face6 99 99 99 99 99 ,watchman1 what of the night8 ,cometh the dawn from afar6 ,dreams pass away and clouds scatter4 ,we will trust the voice of the ,star4 ,,vi4 ,through the ,windows ,some children from within a bare and comfortless room are looking forth upon a wintry night4 ,the world outside is bleak and pitiless4 ,the very church seems empty of suggestion till one notes how the spire with silent finger is pointing to the ,christmas ,star4 ,through the ,windows ,it came and stood over where the young ,child was4 ,winter--and winter's gloom--without1 within-- ,the ice on heart and hearth and sunless earth6 ,cling close1 ye hapless victims of man's sin-- ,companions sad of misery and dearth6 ,cold church1 thy heavenward-pointing spire appeals ,to empty skies1 all heartless1 voiceless1 dumb4 ,no clang of bells through all the city peals4 ,o grieving ones1 your very griefs are numb4 ,yet see6 ,thank ,god for windows6 ,from afar1 ,sweet envoy from a world where all is bright1 ,behold1 in silver radiance shines the star1 ,distilling through the dark its healing light4 ,over the place where hearts are sore and lone2 ,over the place where priests and creeds of late ,have stammered news of ,god and man at one1 ,and seen men doubt and sleep1 and wake to hate4 ,o windows1 made for light to enter in6 ,the ,light is there1 beyond the darkened sky4 ,to reach1 impinge1 and pass your barrier thin1 ,to lift our captive1 earth-bound souls on high6 ,come to the windows6 ,there adoring kneel6 ,beyond your aching hearts the ,heart ,divine6 ,heart seeking heart1 beyond where systems wheel1 ,seeking1 yea1 finding6 ,lo1 the starry sign6 ,o ,hand that leads yon ,star that shall not fail6 ,o ,eye that watches through each guiding ray6 ,o ,home1 beyond our habitations frail6 ,o ,church1 complete in ,heaven's eternal day6 ,be ever for us all 'above the place1' ,bringing all comfort1 joy1 assurance1 peace6 ,healing the desperate sorrow of the race1 ,from all earth's discords gaining glad release6 ,o ,lord of ,light and ,life1 grant us to know1 ,through windows crystal-clear of faith and love1 ,beyond our winter night of grief and woe1 ,the steadfast ,star still shines our world above6 ,,vii4 ,over the ,house-,tops ,above the house-tops of a big1 modern city1 with its skyscrapers and its factory chimneys1 the vision passes across the clouds of the ,wise ,men on their way to ,bethlehem4 ,over the ,house-tops ,god knew no wings were mine2 ,i could not soar ,into the unplumb'd heavens' ethereal vault4 ,e'en could ,i climb the hills1 the infinite more ,of space above had left me still at fault4 ,yet hath ,he will'd that ,i should reach the light1 ,accepting steps let downward to my feet1 ,that ,i should find ,his ladder in the night ,from shop and office1 factory and street4 ,yea1 when the heavy-headed toilers sleep-- ,life from day's fret and fume awhile immune1-- ,when darkling shrouds of night their sentry keep1 ,the heavens with the house-tops hold commune4 ,then am ,i one with all the quests of old1 ,with all the wise ones whom the stars of night1 ,no wandering waifs of space1 their message told ,and crowned their heads with aureole of light4 ,these loved not earth the less that she provides ,foothold for souls whose gaze may pierce the skies2 ,time's many travailings and changing tides ,made past and future equal in their eyes4 ,and this the song that1 soundless1 thrills the air-- ,one with the voice of human hearts that beat ,their living diapason to the prayer1 ,one with snow peaks that soar1 still waters at our feet3 7#a7 ,up to the house-tops of ,faith1 ye sons and daughters of ,doubt1 ,up from the dungeons of ,time1 where sick and imprisoned ye lie6 ,out from your wilderment waken1 ,deem not the world ,god-forsaken6 ,come ye1 for1 piercing the night1 see the star in the sky shining out1 ,splendid o'er mountain and moonlight1 ,faith's witness which none may deny4 ,see1 we are here1 for your helping1 your bodiless pilots of old1 ,we whose example and aid all the world's patient pilgrims made bold4 ,slow ,science has humbled her pride2 ,she takes us and trusts as her guide2 ,for we are the prophets and seers ,who lead on the hesitant years2 ,we follow the spirit's surmise1 ,we hear the voices of night2 ,already there dawns on our prescient eyes ,the ,sun of ,eternity's morn1 the kingdom of limitless light6 7#b7 ,up to the house-tops of ,hope1 ye downcast sons of ,despair1 ,ye whom experience has cheated and left defeated and bare6 ,back to your childhood's fond dreaming-- ,truer was this than your deeming6 ,up from the purlieus of earth where men stifle and struggle for air2 ,catch from the roof-tops the joy of the vision outshining our prayer6 ,lo1 where we stand1 we are yours1 whom the world hath not shaken nor shocked1 ,we who still hoped and went on1 though the multitudes melted and mocked4 ,yet fainting hearts watched from afar ,and followed our beckoning star1 ,for ,god made us ,hope's pioneers1 ,to hearten men out of their fears6 ,while the myriads wander and stray ,in the mists of a starless night1 ,we are steadfast and march on our forward way1 ,on to ,eternity's morn1 to the kingdom of limitless light6 7#c7 ,up to the house-tops of ,love1 ye generations of ,hate1 ,up from the man-made hells where ye struggle and slander and slay6 ,up from your loveless stagnation1 ,up from your hearts' slow starvation6 ,come1 for humanity calls to the heights where all benisons wait1 ,speaking through stars of the night of the luminous earnest of day6 ,see we are round you1 your brothers1 the soldiers and martyrs of ,love1 ,who poured forth our souls like a river1 and labored and suffered and strove6 ,from the flame and the gallows-tree1 ,from the life-long1 slow agony1 ,oh1 we climbed up our ,calvary1 ,so winning ,love's victory4 ,we followed the ,lord of the ,star1 ,who died to discover ,love's might6 ,god grant we may herald to men near and far ,the dawn of the kingdom of ,love1 the kingdom of limitless light6 ,,viii4 ,shepherds of ,men ,the picture for which this was written shows the shepherds standing over their slumbering flock under the shelter of a great rock4 ,to them appears an angel1 his feet almost touching the ground1 bearing in one hand a star and raising the other hand to call attention to his message4 ,shepherds of ,men ,shepherds of men--not sheep-- ,your age-long watch who keep1 ,have ye grown weary waiting for the light8 ,are ye resigned to see ,your silly charges free ,to wander lost and helpless in the night-- ,for whom the word was given of old ,that all should reach at last the eternal fold8 ,or1 sunken in despair1 ,deem ye the cruel lair ,of wolf and lion safe as man's domain8 ,think ye too deep1 too deep1 ,the human lies asleep1 ,and nought but beast awake in blood and brain8 ,is there no inward-turning eye1 ,no pitiful great yearning for the sky8 ,or faint you at the dearth ,of comfort in the earth8 ,is ,nature with the bad in man and beast ,so straitly leagued the rocks1 ,that shelter now your flocks1 ,might flow like lead from furnace fires released1 ,and e'en the soil on which you tread ,prove fleeting as the clouds above your head8 ,have all your passionate cries ',gainst solid-seeming skies ,shivered and fallen in mocking echoes back8 ,does prayer in vain assail8 ,do tears for nought avail8 ,does the bright maze of stars all language lack8 ,a world where struggles1 griefs1 desires1 ,make streams in hell but light not heaven's fires8 ,blessd1 ,o ,shepherds1 ye1 ,who now the glory see1 ,though still your flock for vision unalert6 ,light lifted not too high1 ,nor opening quite the sky1 ,yet quickening skyward yearnings long inert2 ,yea1 making pathways for the feet ,to find the spot where earth and heaven meet6 ,blessd1 again1 since1 borne ,unto a world forlorn1 ,heaven's herald comes1 yet no-wise alien6 ,of heaven the cross-like wings1 ,yet man's the voice that rings1 ,human the eyes that meet the eyes of men2 ,human the feet that seek the ground2 ,human the hands that scatter light around6 ,o ,star1 with heaven-born beams1 ,awake us from our dreams6 ,o clothed with light1 miraculous messenger1 ,set us upon the way ,to greet the coming day1 ,where1 worshipping the ,very ,light1 it were ,foretaste of ,heaven's eternal peace-- ,of earth's unquiet wanderings surcease6 ,shepherds1 forget your fear6 ,the dawn1 the dawn is near6 ,though upstart ,herod and the ,roman might ,combine with all the tribe ,of faithless priest and scribe ,to quench in mists of unbelief the light1 ,the long-expected ,king's at hand1 ,to rule in peace and righteousness the land6 ,say you the vision fades1 ,while all around the shades ,creep coldly on and all your courage dies8 ,go forth1 while round you ring ,strains ye heard angels sing ,when all heaven flashed upon your startled eyes4 ,for though your vision fade away1 ',tis but that dawn may broaden into day4 ,the ,child your eyes shall see1 ,as yet laid lowlily1 ,not yet full-statured risen to the skies-- ,not yet with tongue that speaks1 ,not yet with arm that breaks ,the iron fetters of earth's tyrannies-- ,is earnest of the struggle won1 ,and all life's shadows smitten of the sun4 ,oh1 once again the tale ,makes faith o'er doubt prevail6 ,oh1 once again the vision wakes to deeds ,that god-like grow and shine ,till1 grown to the divine1 ,man soars to heights beyond where doubt impedes1 ,and in one glimpse of ,heaven's glory ,he reads the fulness of the human story4 ,,ix4 ,no ,room in the ,inn ,a picture of two contrasted abodes4 ,on one side is the ,inn1 the ,house of ,chimham1 crowded with revelers whose ideal is expressed by ,herod4 ,on the other side is the humble crib where angels are finding fellowship with ox and ass in adoration of the ,christ ,child4 ,no ,room in the ,inn ,the ,angel ,gabriel speaks3 ,unseen ,i stand and marvel2 mysteries twain ,becloud my understanding4 ,here the train ,of seraphs worship as before the ,throne1 ,with glory vast1 unseen of man alone4 ,even the ox and ass1 dumb1 with meek eyes1 ,with ecstasy atremble1 recognize ,the crib where sleeps their ,lord4 ,yet1 o'er the hills1 ,back turned on this1 a crowded world which fills ,the ,house of ,chimham1 anxious but to see ,the little lights of princely puppetry ,where ,herod's palace flaunts its feeble ray1 ,with lure1 alas1 to lead man's soul astray ,from this1 the light which burns eternally1 ,and brings to earth her full felicity4 99 99 99 99 99 ,o fools1 and blind6 ,i seem to hear your sin ,proclaim'd with revelry within the ,inn ,ye deem so sure a dwelling4 ,hark1 the song ,which shrills so loud the ages all along3 ,no room1 no room1 in the world's wide ,inn1 ,for ,age when the wine of life is thin6 ,this carpenter1 ,joseph--push him aside2 ,if he cannot keep up1 let him lodge outside1 ,with the beasts of the stable of ,bethlehem6 ,no room1 no room1 for ,mary as guest1 ,when ,woman is weakness and sore distrest6 ,as thrall or as toy she awhile may abide2 ,if she come but to suffer1 why1 shut her outside1 ,with the beasts of the stable of ,bethlehem6 ,a child1 a child--on our hands tonight6 ,oh1 no room for ,childhood1 whatever its plight6 ,children are cheap3 for the travail hour1 ,send the woman away to discover a bower ,with the beasts of the stable of ,bethlehem6 ,poor1 foolish world6 ,how are your revels mocked6 ,e'en while ye feast1 your ,inn is earthquake shocked1 ,though ,time but move a finger4 ,the dumb beasts ,are sager than the prophets of your feasts1 ,who lift their empty voices to the night-- ,made deaf by hearing1 blind through gift of sight4 ,this stable whither ye the weak ones ban1 ,stands on the rock of ,god's eternal plan2 ,and far above the ribald song ye sing1 ,i hear the ages with glad chorus ring3 ,room1 ,o room1 in the ,kingdom1 for the trampled of power and pride1 ,for ,age that sinks under its weakness1 with life's full fruition denied1 ,starved faculty hungry for service1 impatient for uses of heaven-- ,o enter1 but stoop as ye enter1 for life abounding is given ,by the way of the stable of ,bethlehem4 ,room1 ,o room1 in the ,kingdom1 for ,womanhood tender and true-- ,handmaid of ,god1 quick oblation1 elect evermore to renew ,life1 with ,hope ever re-risen for the generations of earth-- ,enter1 albeit with pangs of the soul and with travail of birth1 ,by the crib of the stable of ,bethlehem4 ,room1 in the ,kingdom1 for ,childhood--for children the chiefest seat6 ,such shall be dear to the ,king1 ,he shall gather them round ,his feet4 ,in their joy ,he shall greatly rejoice1 and their sadness shall make ,him sad4 ,yea1 their joy shall turn earth into heaven1 and their gladness shall make men glad1 ,as they tell of the stable of ,bethlehem4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sometime it will dawn1 that ,gospel4 ,then shall shine ,this stable1 brighter than the ,orient sun2 ,and men shall worship at this humble shrine1 ,where1 all unmarked1 ,redemption's work's begun4 ,the dumb brutes know2 yet1 for man's sake ,i go1 ,by other signs to stir him in his sleep4 ,my errand now--some few prepared ,i know-- ,to light the hillsides where they watch their sheep4 ,x4 ,mother and ,child ,the ,christ ,child lay in ,mary's lap1 ,his hair was like a crown4444 ,and all the flowers looked up to ,him1 ,and all the stars looked down4 --,g4 ,k4 ,,chesterton4 ,mother and ,child ,mother and ,child6 ,symbol eternal1 and ,fact1 ,prediction sublime6 ,read the sweet story of ,love1 upheld in the arms of ,time6 ,mother and ,child6 ,read the great story of ,earth1 struggling up through her ,sorrow and ,pain1 ,till1 chosen the ,bride of ,god1 she bring forth1 washed clean of all stain1 ,truth undefiled4 ,far back in the youth of the world1 out of water and mist and slime1 ,i see thee1 ,earth-,mother1 arise1 both ,mother and ,daughter of ,time-- ,stern1 sacrificially cruel1 with passionate spirit aflame1 ,cybele1 ,ishtar1 ,isis1 adored under many a name1 ,striving through waste and through weakness1 onward and upward ever1 ,slain for ,love's sake and slaying1 yet failing in sacrifice never1 ,bearing with anguish of heart1 big with the life of the morrow1 ,lifting our soul from the soil1 thy ,body transfixed with our sorrow-- ,till1 lo1 the fair fruitage of life1 upheld in thine arms for a ,throne1 ,opens eyes to the kiss of ,god1 ,his ,child1 yet thy very own4 ,far back ere the brooding wing of the ,spirit o'er ,chaos stirred1 ,god thought of ,creation to be1 and ,his ,thought took flesh as the ,word-- ,child of eternal ,love1 awaiting the fulness of days1 ,downward descending in dreams1 seeking our earthward ways1 ,struggling for birth through the ages1 piercing through many a cloud1 ,worshipped at many an altar1 wherever faces were bowed1 ,or hands uplifted to ,heaven in passionate yearning to see ,in thy ,face the transfiguring vision of life-giving ,deity4 ,till1 lo1 the idea of ,god1 ,his ,child1 thou art brought to birth1 ,making glad all thy brethren to be1 and thy ,mother the travailing earth4 ,o ,mother dear1 to whom came ,gabriel ,with message like a sword1 ,who bowed thyself in meekness at the well-- ,the ,handmaid of the ,lord6 ,mother of ,men1 triumphant o'er the brute1 ,hailed highly favored from the ,holy ,place1 ,the splendor of ,earth's meaning in thy ,face1 ,her ultimate ,flower and ,fruit6 ,o ,babe ,divine1 for whom the angels sang ,o'er ,bethlehem's fields of old1 ,when through the darkness heavenly carols rang ,and heavenly tidings told6 ,o ,child of ,heaven1 to whom all hearts aspire1 ,in incense clouds of prayer that upward burn1 ,in wakening throbs of ,life that constant yearn-- ,rich ,spring-tide of desire6 ,beyond the temporal tides whose course has run ,in realms where space has burst her ancient bars1 ,i see the ,woman clothed with the ,sun1 ,and circled with the stars4 ,with feet upon the changeful ,moon1 she stands1 ,and on her face a look divinely mild1 ,she holds secure with tender1 human hands ,the ,everlasting ,child4 ,o ancient ,mother1 ever ,virgin1 young ,with youth renewed through all the ages1 ,sign ,of ,hope1 the age-long prayer of every tongue1 ,and ,victory divine6 ,hold ,thou that ,hope that bursts upon our night-- ,babe by thee suckled1 sustenant of thee1 ,beacon enkindled from the ,eternal ,light1 ,for all the world to see6 ,sing all ye angel conclave of the skies1 ,who at ,creation's birth did shout for joy1 ,and hailed the task begun6 ,now let your songs of triumph higher rise1 ,and all your heavenliest melodies employ1 ,to praise ,creation done6 ,and sing1 ye creatures from the lowest deep1 ,whose groans have risen3 ',o ,lord1 ,o ,lord1 how long8' ,expectant of the dawn6 ,high festival with men and angels keep1 ,upraise from ,earth to ,heaven the endless song1 ,and hail the ,babe new-born6 ,,xi4 ,the ,vision of the ,kings ,a woman1 with her baby at her breast1 is depicted meditating1 half to herself and half to her child1 upon the ,christmas story4 ,the poem endeavors to trace the pathway of her thought4 ,the ,vision of the ,kings ,i4 ,o ,virginal mother of men1 in whose fathomless eyes-- ,soft eyes too familiar with tears1 ,past sorrow and faith in the future both wistfully wait ,the gladness that comes with the years6 ,asleep on your breast and content1 that futurity lies1 ,nor frets nor frowns at its fate4 ,while half to yourself and half to your baby you sing ,the story undying miraculous ,christmases bring3 ,there came three kings from far away1 from far away1 from far away1 ,and o'er the crib of ,bethlehem their guiding star its course did stay4 ,along the road beneath that star the way ahead like silver shone3 ,so came they to the ,king of kings and poured their gifts before ,his throne4 ,,ii4 ,then sudden before your eyes the walls material fade ,and melt away in the light1 ,while1 full in that ray1 as on stairway of stars1 descend1 ,in robes of splendor bedight1 ,three kingships on pilgrimage questing1 with ,heaven their aid1 ,and ,god within them their friend4 ,they move all majestical onward1 as eager to greet ,the slumbering ,infant who draws them to kneel at ,his feet4 ,,iii4 ,the first is the kingship of ,love1 that walks in the van-- ,of ,love that kneels only to ,love1 ,and vows unto ,love a devotion ,love only may pay4 ,since ,love is endowed from above4 ,how else could mortality offer such worship to man1 ,or clay so reverence clay1 ,did ,love not know ,love as predestined from death to win free1 ,though lying all feeble and helpless asleep on your knee8 ,,iv4 ,the second is kingship of ,service1 carrying high ,its casket of frankincense rare1 ,as ready in glad self-oblation to cast at ,love's feet ,the vessel fashioned so fair2 ,in gladness releasing1 as incense that floats to the sky1 ,the odors of sacrifice sweet2 ,lest self claim the fragrance that clings to one drop of the nard1 ,to shatter the vessel so fine to the uttermost shard4 ,v4 ,the third is the kingship of ,wisdom1 lingering still1 ,with hands that grope as they bear ,no visible gift1 and with footsteps that feel for the light1 ,and with eyes turned inward1 from fear ,lest soon all their questing be ended1 lest soon they shall fill ,their seeing with fullness of sight2 ,still wise in their seeking for wisdom1 yet wiser to be ,in serving the ,christ of their seeking on worshipping knee4 ,,vi4 ,is all but a dream1 ,o my mother1 as1 plain in your sight1 ,these march on their star-lit way8 ,or see you1 through casements celestial1 on ,heaven's bright floor1 ,some earnest of ,heaven's new day1 ,when all things on earth1 or in heaven1 or in hell's blackest night1 ,bow down to give praise evermore-- ,when they sing the new song of release from earth's sorrow and thrall ,to ,him who1 though born in a manger1 is ,king over all8 ,,vii4 ,still dream1 and with life as it passes still mingle your dream1 ,nor fear for the ages unknown6 ,all fear shall your ,babe laugh to scorn1 however heavy its weight1 ,since man is not faring alone6 ',emmanuel'--',god with us all'--this is solace1 we deem1 ,sufficient to front any fate2 ,though sharp be the ,cross ,he must bear1 when the conflict is o'er1 ,the kingship of earth and of heaven is ,his evermore4 ,,xii4 ,a ,prayer for the ,new ,year ,a ,prayer for the ,new ,year ,o ,god1 whose days are without end and ,whose years cannot be numbered6 ,we1 the seeming creatures of a day1 reach onward through the passing years ,to claim ,thy kinship in ,eternity4 ,we thank ,thee for the solemn pause wherein we put the dead past behind us1 ,and face the new unknown with courage new4 ,lift up over ,thy bewildered world the sunshine of ,thy presence ,that we this year may see the world1 ,thy handiwork1 ,emerge victorious1 purposeful from ,chaos1 ,grant us to see1 clear of cloud and battle-smoke1 ,the ,eternal ,city1 real before our eyes1 ,stable on earth1 the world of all our dreams1 ,home of men reconciled1 redeemed from hate4 ,grant us to see ,creation1 after travail pangs1 ,with ,love again made young1 young ,hope within her arms1 ,her sorrows healed1 her tears to pearls transformed4 ,then we1 strangers and sojourners of ,time1 shall gird ourselves ,for the march which ends not but in rest with ,thee4 ,o hang the lamp of hope above our onward path2 ,give clearer light to understand the things which hitherto were dark2 ,give strength to work the work for which our hands were hitherto too feeble2 ,enlarge our hearts to love all that is worthy love1 though hitherto unloved2 ,whatever seed ,thou scatterest along these unknown days ahead1 ,help us to reap therefrom harvests of blessing for ourselves and others ,which ,thou wilt garner safe beyond the flux of years4 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,by ,,morehouse ,,publishing ,,co4 ,,milwaukee1 ,,wis4