Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHRISTMAS AND IRELAND, by LIONEL PIGOT JOHNSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRISTMAS AND IRELAND, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The golden stars give warmthless fire
Subject(s): Ireland



To Miss Milligan.
The golden stars give warmthless fire ,

As weary Mary goes through night:
Sing Bethlehem next hit ! previous hit Sing Bethlehem next hit !
Her feet are torn by stone and briar;
You daughters of Jerusalem!
She hath no rest, no strength, no light:
Keep sorrow for Gethsemani,
And mourning for Mount Calvary!
O Mary, weary in the snow,
Remember Ireland's woe!
Why are your lids and lashes wet?

Here is no darkling Olivet.


O Joseph, sad for Mary's sake!

Look on our earthly Mother too:
Sing Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
Let not the heart of Ireland break
You daughters of Jerusalem!
With agony, the ages through:
How should we previous hit sing of Bethlehem,
We, daughters of Jerusalem?
For Mary's love, love also thou
We are the people of the Jews:
Ireland, and save her now!

Our balms would soothe Him not, but bruise.


Harsh were the folk, and bitter stern,

At Bethlehem, that night of nights.
Ah, Calvary! ah, Calvary!
For you no cheering hearth shall burn:
We wretched women cry to thee:
We have no room here, you no rights.
We, daughters of Jerusalem;
And enemies of Bethlehem.
O Mary and Joseph! hath not she,
With faces cast upon the dust,
Ireland, been even as ye?
We weep those things, which do we must:




The ancient David's royal house
Was thine, Saint Joseph! wherefore she,
Our tears embitter Calvary,
And water thee, Gethsemani!
Mary, thine Ever Virgin Spouse,
To thine own city went with thee.
Nay, Bethlehem! Sing Bethlehem!
Behold! thy citizens disown
Poor daughters of Jerusalem!
The heir of David's throne!
You know not, what you do: but He
Will pardon you on Calvary.




Nay, more! The Very King of kings
Nay, more! The Very King of kings
Was with you, coming to his own:
Was with you, coming to his own:
They thrust Him forth to lowliest things;
The poor meek beasts of toil alone
They thrust Him forth to lowliest things;
Stood by, when came to piteous birth
The poor meek beasts of toil alone
Stood by, when came to piteous birth
The God of all the earth.
The God of all the earth.




And she, our Mother Ireland, knows
And she, our Mother Ireland, knows
Insult, and infamies of wrong:
Insult, and infamies of wrong:
Her innocent children clad with woes,
Her weakness trampled by the strong:
Her innocent children clad with woes,
Her weakness trampled by the strong:
And still upon her Holy Land
Her pitiless foemen stand.
And still upon her Holy Land

Her pitiless foemen stand.


From Manger unto Cross and Crown

Went Christ: and Mother Mary passed
From Manger unto Cross and Crown
Went Christ: and Mother Mary passed
Through Seven Sorrows, and sat down
Through Seven Sorrows, and sat down
Upon the Angel Throne at last.
Thence, Mary! to thine own Child pray,
Upon the Angel Throne at last.
Thence, Mary! to thine own Child pray,
For Ireland's hope this day!

For Ireland's hope this day!



She wanders amid winter still,
The dew of tears is on her face:
She wanders amid winter still,
Her wounded heart takes yet its fill
The dew of tears is on her face:
Of desolation and disgrace.
Her wounded heart takes yet its fill
God still is God! And through God she
Of desolation and disgrace.
God still is God! And through God she
Foreknows her joy to be.

Foreknows her joy to be.



The snows shall perish at the spring,
The flowers pour fragrance round her feet:
The snows shall perish at the spring,
Ah, Jesus! Mary! Joseph! bring
The flowers pour fragrance round her feet:
This mercy from the Mercy Seat!
Ah, Jesus! Mary! Joseph! bring
Send it, sweet King of Glory, born
This mercy from the Mercy Seat!
Send it, sweet King of Glory, born
Humbly on Christmas Morn!

Humbly on Christmas Morn!







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