Christmas
Though doubters doubt and scoffers scoff,
And peace on earth seems still far off
Though learned doctors think they know
The gospel stories are not so;
Though greedy man is greedy still
And competition chokes goodwill,
While rich men sigh and poor men fret,
Dear me! we can’t spare Christmas yet!
Time may do better–maybe not ;
Meanwhile let’s keep the day we’ve got!
On Bethlehem’s birth and Bethlehem’s star
Whate’er our speculations are,
Where’er for us may run the line
Where human merges with divine,
We’re dull indeed if we can’t see
What Christmas feelings ought to be,
And dull again if we can doubt It’s worth our while to bring them out.
“Glory to God: goodwill to men !”
Come! Feel it, show it, give it, then!
Come to us, Christmas, good old day,
Soften us, cheer us, say your say
To hearts which thrift, too eager, keeps In bonds, while fellow-feeling sleeps.
Good Christmas, whom our children love,
We love you, too! Lift us above
Our cares, our fears, our small desires!
Open our hands and stir the fires
Of helpful fellowship within us,
And back to love and kindness win us!
– E. S. Martin., Life, 1897