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 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
God, the Lord almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him whom cherubim
worship night and day -
a breastful of milk,
and a manger full of hay;
enough for him whom angels
fall down before -
the wise men and the shepherds
who adore!

4 What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him -
give my heart.

C G Rossetti
Public Domain