Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel
In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel
In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

no subject
Date: 2012-12-23 09:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-23 10:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-24 12:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-24 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-23 02:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-12-23 02:54 pm (UTC)Someone chose Hardy for his specialist subject on Mastermind the other evening. I wouldn't call myself a Hardy expert, yet I knew most of the answers!
no subject
Date: 2012-12-24 05:15 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for the beautiful card - I think it's my favourite! And I am very shame-faced at not having sent you one this year. Perhaps we could start a new habit of alternating years?
Merry Christmas xx
no subject
Date: 2012-12-24 05:39 pm (UTC)Don't worry about cards, please! Hope you all have a wonderful family Christmas.
no subject
Date: 2012-12-28 01:58 pm (UTC)