“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”
– Laura Ingalls Wilder
That time of the year is finally here. Christmas time is here with all its many wonders. Family members and friends around the year gather together and celebrate the birth of Christ during this magical month. With scrumptious food, melodious carols, and surprising presents galore, most of us have a permanent smile etched on our faces during this season. Undeniably, Christmas makes us nostalgic for the bygone days of our childhoods. Invariably, it reminds us of the innocence of that time. In all honestly, Christmas personifies all that is good. For us laypeople, it might get difficult to articulate our feelings for Christmas. However, it is not the same for poets.
When simple language is not enough to capture our emotions about something, we turn to poetry. The wonder as well as the dread of Christmas are beautifully captured in the words of some of our greatest poets.
This Christmas, let us have a look at some of the timeless Christmas poems that always succeed in heartening our souls.
Poem: Journey of the Magi
Poet: T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot is one of my all-time favorite poets. He penned this allegorical poem after his own conversion to Anglicanism. Journey of the Magi is written from the perspective of a magus, one of the three wise men who went to visit Jesus after his birth. The magi were well-to-do men who led a life of privilege. The trials and tribulations that they experience on their way to see the newborn Christ sharply contrast with their luxurious lifestyle. Through the Journey of the Magi, Eliot depicts the pains of letting go of one way of life and then embracing a completely new one. The difficulties faced by the travelers are akin to the difficulties of a spiritual transformation. Curiously, when the Magi finally meet the Son of God, there is no pomp. Perhaps, Eliot aimed to show that Jesus’ birth, though a joyous occasion, signalled an end to the old ways. Again, Eliot stressed the travails involved when one completely lets go of one’s old beliefs and adopts a new faith. T.S. Eliot’s Journey of the Magi is a perfect poem to read during Christmas.
Poem: Ring Out, Wild Bells
Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Alfred, Lord Tennyson was devastated after losing his dear friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. His death galvanized him to pen the elegiac work, In Memoriam. Ring Out, Wild Bells is a part of Tennyson’s In Memoriam, A.H.H. In this poem, he talks about letting go of old sorrows, regrets, and everything bad. He asks us to embrace the future with all its new promises as we welcome a new year. The poem underscores the importance of redemption. The bells in the poem wring out the past and usher in a fresh new future. This poem is actually a perfect read for New Year as well as Christmas.
Poem: I Saw a Stable
Poet: Mary Coleridge
Mary Coleridge is the great grand-niece of the Incomparable Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Though her work is often forgotten, she was indeed a talented poet. Her lyrical poem, I Saw a Stable, beautifully captures the essence of Christ’s birth in only six lines. The pastoral scene of a baby born in a stable depicts the importance of Christ’s purpose on Earth. She shows how both the safety of the world and its death knell resided in the newborn baby Jesus.
Poem: A Visit from St Nicholas
Poet: Clement Clarke Moore
Clement Clarke Moore was a renowned literary scholar and professor. In 1823, he wrote A Visit from St Nicholas for the enjoyment of his children. The poem was anonymously published at first. It was years later in 1837 when it was revealed that Moore was the author of this magical poem. St Nicholas is popularly known as Santa Claus today. In this poem, Moore talks about Santa Claus and his visit to the narrator’s home. A tone of utter amazement and childlike joy is prevalent in this lyrical poem, making it perfect for children. Actually, it was in this poem that Santa’s reindeer Rudolf was first named. The poem has reached iconic status. In fact, the way we visualize Santa Claus today is highly inspired by this children’s poem. A Visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore is a perfect read for any Christmas.
Poem: Music on Christmas Morning
Poet: Anne Bronte
Anne Bronte was the youngest of the three creatively talented Bronte sisters. Ever since childhood, Anne had an inclination toward music. When her dear father and beloved sister, Emily, passed away, Anne turned to music to find solace. It was during this time that she wrote Music on Christmas Morning. In this poem, Anne tells us about what Christmas means to her. She talks about the joy that she finds in Christmas and the Christmas carols. Anne underlines the power of music, especially its healing abilities for those experiencing intense grief. She likens the happiness that she gets from music to a piece of heaven that is brought down to humanity from above. Music on Christmas Morning is indeed a treat to read, especially for music lovers around the world.
Poem: Christmas Bells
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The American Civil War ravaged America for quite a few years. Countless lives were lost on both sides of the fence. It seemed that every family had suffered a terrible loss during that time. Henry Wardsworth Longfellow was no exception. The talented poet’s son, Charles, suffered from a terrible injury while fighting in the war. This made Longfellow pen Christmas Bells, which later went on to inspire the Christmas carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. In this poem, Longfellow beautifully compares the joy and peace of Christmastime with the horrors of war.
Conclusion
Christmas epitomizes love, joy, and laughter. It is indeed a musical holiday that brings us all together. I have always thought that Christmas has a lyrical aspect to it. Full of songs, stories, and poems, it makes us appreciate the past and hope for the future. This Christmas let us celebrate Christmas by reading or reciting some classic Christmas poems.
Do comment and let me know which of the listed poems grabs your attention the most.
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The Magi are an important oart of Christmas season in my culture, so I think I’ll look up the T.S. Eliot one. Merry Christmas!
I hope you find it thought-provoking and enriching to delve into Eliot’s exploration of this timeless narrative.