Christmas in Poetry

Then spake Ivy, “I am loud and proud,
And I will have the mastery
In lands where we go.”

Then spake Holly, and bent him down on his knee,
“I pray thee, gentle Ivy,
Essay me no villany
In the lands where we go.”

    Fifteenth Century Carol

CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS

Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,
While my good dame, she
Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your heart’s desiring.

With the last year’s brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
On your psalteries play,
That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-tending.

Drink now the strong beer,
Cut the white loaf here,
The while the meat is a-shredding;
For the rare mince-pie
And the plums stand by
To fill the paste that’s a-kneading.

    Robert Herrick

CHRISTMAS EVE – ANOTHER CEREMONY

Come, guard this night the Christmas-pie,
That the thief, though ne’er so sly,
With his flesh-hooks, don’t come nigh
To catch it.

From him, who alone sits there,
Having his eyes still in his ear,
And a deal of nightly fear
To watch it.

ANOTHER TO THE MAIDS

Wash your hands, or else the fire
Will not tend to your desire;
Unwashed hands, ye maidens, know,
Dead the fire, though ye blow.

    Robert Herrick

OUR JOYFUL FEAST

So, now is come our joyful feast,
Let every soul be jolly!
Each room with ivy leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repine,
Round your brows let garlands twine,
Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry!

Now all our neighbours’ chimneys smoke,
And Christmas logs are burning;
Their ovens with baked meats do choke,
And all their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if for cold it hap to die,
We’ll bury it in Christmas pie,
And evermore be merry!

    George Wither

notes

1

handsel: a gift for good luck.