Heaven Cannot Hold Him

by Christina Rosetti (1830-1894)

In the bleak midwinter
     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 midwinter
     Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
     Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
     When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
     A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
     Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
     Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
     And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
     Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
     Which adore.

Angels and archangels
     May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
     Thronged the air;
But only His mother
     In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
     With a kiss.

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.

Christmas Poems
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