In The Bleak Midwinter

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,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But his mother only, 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.