in the bleak midwinter

I think this old Christian hymn was written by Christina Rossetti?  It's a little too Jesus Christ-y for me.  I reject the creation myth that centers around the birth of a male, with only the requisite "virgin" mother as the only female character.   As if women were always minor characters, supporting roles.  But I love the first stanza. .. . esp. 'earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone'. Isn't that beautiful? And I love the reverence. And I love how she reminds us that there are multiple hierarchy of angels, angels being beings in the supersensible realm. There are nine hierarchies of angels. This time of year, considered 'the holy nights' by many, is a good time to remember the mystery. The core of all creation myths is the mystery of love, isn't it?  So enjoy this old poem with me, skip past the male dominator aspect  and behold the mystery with reverence.  Why are we here? What is this business of being human about? Why? What?



In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.