In the bleak midwinter, 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 midwinter, 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 midwinter a stable place sufficed
the lord god almighty, jesus christ.
Enough for him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
enough for him, whom angels fall before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, 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.
