Ancient and Modern ‎#68

68. In the bleak mid-winter

1 In the bleak mid-winter
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 mid-winter
long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak mid-winter
a stable-place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him whom cherubim
worship night and day,
a breast-ful of milk
and a manger-ful of hay;
enough for him whom angels
fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel
which adore.

4 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air,
but only his mother
in her maiden bliss
worshipped the Belovèd
with a kiss.

5 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.

Text Information

• First Line: In the bleak mid-winter
• Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894)
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:1-20
  ;
  Revelation 20:11
• Topic: Angels; Children and All-Age Worship; Christmas; Christmas Day; Church Year: Christmas; Mary; Self-offering

Tune Information

• Name: CRANHAM
• Composer: Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major