Christmas Eve
E. Bainton
Hark! The bells ringing!
In the deep night, in the depth of the winter of Man,
Lo! Once more the Son is born.
O agelong, not in Nazareth alone,
Nor now to-day -- but through all ages of the past,
The bells of Christmas ringing:
The Savior-music like a dream from heaven
Touching the slumbering heart.
Sweet promise which the people with unerring instinct cling to!
O winter sun arising never more to set!
O Nature slowly changing, slow transforming to the hearts of men,
Shrine of the soul, shrine of the new-born god -- of Man himself.