Poetry Friday: Before the Paling of the Stars

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cockcrow
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world His Hands had made
Born a Stranger.

Priest and King lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem,
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem:
Saint and Angel, Ox and Ass,
Kept a watch together,
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on His Mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless Lamb of God was He,
Shepherd of the Fold:
Let us kneel with Mary Maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With Saint and Angel, Ox and Ass,
To hail the King of Glory.

~ Christina Rossetti, 1859

I found this lovely verse in A Year Full of Poems. In the book, this poem is titled "Christmas Daybreak," but when I found it online here, I saw a note that Ms. Rossetti's original title was simply the first line of the poem. I really like that line - Before the paling of the stars - so soothing, it immediately sets the tone.

I wish I could show you the beautiful two-page illustration that accompanies this selection ~ Mary cradling the Babe in her arms, the soft hues of the Holy Land all around them. Actually, if you see my bulletin board post, you can see part of the page, photocopied and tacked up in the center of the board. 

For the whole Poetry Friday round-up, please check in later at Big A, Little a. (I think - I will double check the link later!)

Update! The round-up is at Chicken Spaghetti this week! :)

Happy Friday!