Christmas Poems About Jesus

Christmas Tide

by Lottie Brown Allen

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Turn ye away from your hearth fires bright,
Women and men of the world, tonight;
Cease for a moment, your jest and mirth,
Hark to the message of "Peace on Earth".

Join ye the shepherds who watch their sheep
Tending their fires lest they fall asleep;
Under the arch of the star-lit sky,
Hear ye, the "Glory to God on High".

Take just a glimpse of the heavenly throng
Joyously chanting the glad, new song.
Out of the midst of those realms of light,
Know that your Savior is born tonight.

Christmas Day

by Charles Wesley

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Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild, he lays his glory by;
Born, that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

The Holy Night

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem;
The dumb kine from their fodder turning them,
Softened their horned faces
To almost human gazes
Toward the newly Born:
The simple shepherds from the star-lit brooks
Brought visionary looks,
As yet in their astonied hearing rung
The strange sweet angel-tongue:
The magi of the East, in sandals worn,
Knelt reverent, sweeping round,
With long pale beards, their gifts upon the ground,
The incense, myrrh, and gold
These baby hands were impotent to hold:
So let all earthlies and celestials wait
Upon thy royal state.
Sleep, sleep, my kingly One!

Christmas Song

by Bliss Carman

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Above the weary waiting world,
Asleep in chill despair,
There breaks a sound of joyous bells
Upon the frosted air.
And o'er the humblest rooftree, lo,
A star is dancing on the snow.

What makes the yellow star to dance
Upon the brink of night?
What makes the breaking dawn to glow
So magically bright, —
And all the earth to be renewed
With infinite beatitude?

The singing bells, the throbbing star,
The sunbeams on the snow,
And the awakening heart that leaps
New ecstasy to know, —
They all are dancing in the morn
Because a little child is born.

A Christmas Carol

by J. R. Eastwood

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It is the time when frost and snow
Bring Christmas mirth and mistletoe,
And berries red and holly green,
And silent skies with starlight keen.

It is the time when on the tree
The shrill birds chirp for charity,
And seek for food on wintry days
Along the snow-encumbered ways.

It is the time when God in love
Sends peace on earth from heaven above,
With all the joys that shone for them
Who hailed the Star of Bethlehem!

It is the time when earth is fain
To catch the angels' song again,
Whose carol strains made glad the morn
On which the Holy Child was born!

A Christmas Carol

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

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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.

The Inn That Missed Its Chance

by Amos Russel Wells

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(The Landlord speaks, A.D. 28.)

What could be done? The inn was full of folks!
His honor, Marcus Lucius, and his scribes
Who made the census: honorable men
From farthest Galilee, come hitherward
To he enrolled; high ladles and their lords;
The rich, the rabbis, such a noble throng
As Bethlehem had never seen before,
And may not see again. And there they were,
Close herded with their servants, till the inn
Was like a hive at swarming-time, and I
Was fairly crazed among them.

Could I know
That they were so important? Just the two,
No servants, just a workman sort of man,
Leading a donkey, and his wife thereon,
Drooping and pale,—I saw them not myself,
My servants must have driven them away;
But had I seen them, how was I to know?
Were inns to welcome stragglers, up and down
In all our towns from Beersheha to Dan,
Till He should come? And how were men to know?

There was a sign, they say, a heavenly light
Resplendent; but I had no time for stars.
And there were songs of angels in the air
Out on the hills; but how was I to hear
Amid the thousand clamors of an inn?

Of course, if I had known them, who they were,
And who was He that should he born that night,—
For now I learn that they will make Him King,
A second David, who will ransom us
From these Philistine Romans,—who but He
That feeds an army with a loaf of bread,
And if a soldier falls, He touches him
And up he leaps, uninjured? Had I known,
I would have turned the whole inn upside down,
His honor, Marcus Lucius, and the rest,
And sent them all to stables, had I known.

So you have seen Him, stranger, and perhaps
Again will see Him, Prithee say for me,
I did not know; and if He comes again
As He will surely come, with retinue,
And banners, and an army, tell my Lord
That all my inn is His, to make amends.

Alas! Alas! To miss a chance like that!
This inn that might he chief among them all,
The birthplace of Messiah,—had I known!

"Peace on Earth"

by Amos Russel Wells

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Bethlehem hills that solemn night
Softly beheld a golden sight,
Thrilled to a burst of holy sound:
"Glory to God to the farthest height,
Peace on earth
To men of worth,
Men in whom God's grace is found!"

Ever has that angelic lay
Widened over the earth away;
Still the quivering echoes run
From listening night to listening day—
"Peace, peace, peace,"
They never cease,
Broadening out from sun to sun.

Now, through the miracle of time,
In every land, in every clime,
Whispering low in the pulsing air
Sounds that Bethlehem chant sublime,
Singing still
Of man's good will
And the heavenly Father's peaceful care.

How can we reach and catch the song?
How, in our Babel of wrath and wrong,
Can we capture the holy strain again
That has wandered far, so far and long,
On land and sea
So far and free:
"Peace on earth and good will to men"?

Hushed in the dawning of love's great light,
Brothers all in the angels' sight,
Some glad day we shall catch the sound;
"Glory to God in the farthest height,
Peace on earth
To men of worth,
Men in whom God's grace is found!"

Christmas Day

by ENS

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How shall I own this grand auspicious day,
In which my Saviour did vouchsafe to come
And dwell on earth, cloth'd in our sinful clay,
That we through Him might reach His glorious throne?

He came to teach, to suffer, and to save,
To save poor mortals from the effects of sin;
He came to triumph o'er the darksome grave,
To conquer death and spoil him of his sting.

He came to fulfil all the just demands
Of God, His Father, our offended King;
He came to save us from th' avenging hand
Of wrath awaken'd, the reward of sin.

I'll hail it as a day of heavenly mirth,
Of holy gladness, peace, goodwill to men;
This day the great Redeemer came on earth,
To save us and destroy the effects of sin.

I'll hail it as a day of liberty,
When we were loosed from satan's fetters strong;
This day His work began to set us free,
Angels this morn proclaim'd the Saviour come.

Glory to thee, oh! Father, Lord of might,
Who hath on us bestow'd so great a boon;
Glory to thee, oh! Saviour, prince of life,
Who for our sakes left thy resplendent throne.

Glory to thee, oh! Holy Ghost divine,
Oh! let thine influence on our hearts descend,
Glory and praises be for ever thine,
Triune Jehovah evermore—amen.

A Christmas Eve Choral

by Bliss Carman

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HALLELUJA!
What sound is this across the dark
While all the earth is sleeping? Hark!
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Why are thy tender eyes so bright,
Mary, Mary?
On the prophetic deep of night
Joseph, Joseph,
I see the borders of the light,
And in the day that is to be
An aureoled man-child I see,
Great love's son, Joseph.

Halleluja!
He hears not, but she hears afar,
The Minstrel Angel of the star.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Why is thy gentle smile so deep,
Mary, Mary?
It is the secret I must keep,
Joseph, Joseph, —
The joy that will not let me sleep,
The glory of the coming days,
When all the world shall turn to praise
God's goodness, Joseph.

Halleluja!
Clear as the bird that brings the morn
She hears the heavenly music borne.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Why is thy radiant face so calm,
Mary, Mary?
His strength is like a royal palm,
Joseph, Joseph;
His beauty like the victor's psalm,
He moves like morning o'er the lands
And there is healing in his hands
For sorrow, Joseph.

Halleluja!
Tender as dew-fall on the earth
She hears the choral of love's birth.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

What is the message come to thee,
Mary, Mary?
I hear like wind within the tree,
Joseph, Joseph,
Or like a far-off melody
His deathless voice proclaiming peace,
And bidding ruthless wrong to cease,
For love's sake, Joseph.

Halleluja!
Moving as rain-wind in the spring
She hears the angel chorus ring.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Why are thy patient hands so still,
Mary, Mary?
I see the shadow on the hill,
Joseph, Joseph,
And wonder if it is God's will
That courage, service, and glad youth
Shall perish in the cause of truth
Forever, Joseph.

Halleluja!
Her heart in that celestial chime
Has heard the harmony of time.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Why is thy voice so strange and far,
Mary, Mary?
I see the glory of the star,
Joseph, Joseph;
And in its light all things that are,
Made glad and wise beyond the sway
Of death and darkness and dismay,
In God's time Joseph.

Halleluja!
To every heart in love 'tis given
To hear the ecstasy of heaven.
Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja.

Bethlehem's Star, or, The Wise Men From the East

by Eliza Wolcott

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They followed the star by faith,—all may follow
Their steps to fair Bethlehem's gates;
The song of the angels, our bosoms may hallow,—
The Savior, to meet us there, waits.

What song can compare with the song which they sing,—
'Tis the song which eternity fills;—
Good will toward men, is the song which they bring,
While shepherds descend from the hills.

The news now is gladness, 'tis joy, it is peace,
Which the wings of the angels unfold;
Their message of truth, our faith shall increase,
Where the star leads our eyes to behold.

Redemption from bondage, and slavery's chains,
Our lips now in praises may sing;
We follow the Star, where the image contains
Our Conqueror, Priest, and our King.

The lowliest station, he takes for his bed,
The meanest of clothing puts on;
He is found without pomp, where the oxen are fed,
Though the world he can claim as his own,

Blest pattern of meekness, thy visit we prize,
Our hearts feel new joys while we sing;
Our praises in concert, shall constantly rise,
Till earth owns her Savior and King.

The Old, Old Story

by Lottie Brown Allen

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Joyfully the hours were speeding,
And the children, all unheeding
Flitted gaily to and fro,
At the farmhouse making merry,
Hanging sprays of holly berry
And the magic mistletoe.

Dear old Grandma, meanwhile sitting
In the firelight with her knitting.
Sometimes joining in their glee,
Spoke at last in gentle measure
And they came with smiles of pleasure
To their places at her knee.

"Come, my dears, and 'round me gather
For without is wintry weather,
But within is warmth and cheer.
Lay aside your pastimes yonder
And the Old, Old Story ponder,
As the Christmastide draws near.

"Long ago, in bygone ages,
Oft we read from sacred pages,
Shepherds watched their flocks by night,
When a beauteous angel found them,
And his glory shone around them,
Till they trembled with affright.

"But he said,'O Shepherds, hear me!
Do not flee, but come ye near me,
Goodly tidings do I bring.
List ye to the wondrous story,
Christ, the Lord of light and glory,
Unto you is born, a King.

"'Have ye, then, no thought of danger,
Ye shall find him in a manger
Near the inn of Bethlehem.'
And e're he had ceased the story,
Heavenly hosts were singing, 'Glory,
On earth peace, good will to men.'

"And you know, dears, how they sought Him,
And of gifts the wise men brought Him,
As they journeyed from afar,
Seeking for that Babe of Glory,
Never doubting once, the story,
Guided by a single star.

"And each year, all gloom dispelling,
Sweeter growing in the telling,
This old story, ever new,
Points to Bethlehem's star that brightly
Shines above to guide us rightly,
Shines, my dears, for me and you.

"When the Christmas bells are ringing
Our hearts' choicest tresures bringing,
Humbly may we offer then,
And with angels of the story
We may sing the songs of glory,
'Peace on earth, good will to men.'"

Christmas Carol

by Lottie Brown Allen

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Long ago the holy angels
Sang from the skies of glory bright,
O’er the drowsy shepherds watching
By their silent flocks at night,
And their song was "Glory, glory,
Glory be to God on high,
Peace and good will to His children,"
Rang the chorus from the sky.

And an angel told the story,
"Joyful tidings do we bring
God has sent to earth from heaven,
Christ, your Savior, and your King.
Go and seek in yonder village,
Hasten and be not afraid,
He is born among the lowly
And is in a manger laid."

Ages pass, but not the story
By the shining angel told,
’Tis man’s greatest gift and blessing
And it never shall grow old,
And the children love to hear it
Best of all at Christmastide,
The sweet story of the Christ child,
Whose dear name was glorified.

And within the many churches
That are builded in His name,
With glad gifts to one another
Do we honor Him again
While thousands of children's voices
Sing His glory and His love
As the holy angels sang it
From the shining skies above.

Tis by far the sweetest music
Mortal ears have heard since then,
Happy childish voices chanting
"Peace on earth, good will to men."
O’er the earth resounds the anthem
"Glory be to God on high,
Peace and good will to His children"
Rings the echo from the sky.

A Christmas Hymn

by John Charles McNeill

Near where the shepherds watched by night
And heard the angels o'er them,
The wise men saw the starry light
Stand still at last before them.
No armored castle there to ward
His precious life from danger,
But, wrapped in common cloth, our Lord
Lay in a lowly manger.
No booming bells proclaimed his birth,
No armies marshalled by,
No iron thunders shook the earth,
No rockets clomb the sky;
The temples builded in his name
Were shapeless granite then,
And all the choirs that sang his fame
Were later breeds of men.
But, while the world about him slept,
Nor cared that he was born,
One gentle face above him kept
Its mother watch till morn;
And, if his baby eyes could tell
What grace and glory were,
No roar of gun, no boom of bell
Were worth the look of her.
Now praise to God that ere his grace
Was scorned and he reviled
He looked into his mother's face,
A little helpless child;
And praise to God that ere men strove
About his tomb in war
One loved him with a mother's love,
Nor knew a creed therefor.

Table of Contents

Short Christmas Poems About Jesus

Christmas Tide

Christmas Day

The Holy Night

Christmas Song

A Christmas Carol

More Christmas Poems About Jesus

A Christmas Carol

The Inn That Missed Its Chance

"Peace on Earth"

Christmas Day

A Christmas Eve Choral

Bethlehem's Star, or, The Wise Men From the East

The Old, Old Story

Christmas Carol

A Christmas Hymn

Related Poems

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