poetry friday

The Shepherd and the King
by Eleanor Farjeon

The Shepherd and the King,
The Angel and the Ass,
They heard Sweet Mary sing
When her joy was come to pass;
They heard Sweet Mary sing
To the Baby on her knee;
Sing again, Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas Night.

The Oxen in the stall,
The Sheep upon the hill,
They are waking all
To hear Sweet Mary still.
The Baby is a Child,
And the Child is running free;
Sing again, Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas night.

The People in the land,
So many million strong,
All silently do stand
To hear Sweet Mary’s song.
The Child He is a Man,
And the Man hangs on a tree.
Sing again, Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas night.

The Stars that are so old,
The Grass that is so young,
They listen in the cold
To hear Sweet Mary’s tongue.
The Man’s the Son of God,
And in Heaven walketh He.
Sing again, Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas night.

 Merry Christmas from Orange Marmalade! I’m looking forward to spiced tea, peppermint brownies, crackling fires, all the kids home, and hopefully some more snowfalls. I’ll see you after New Years — I already have so many ideas for books I want to spread the word about!