A CHRISTMAS WISH

I cannot give you happiness:

For wishes long have ceased to bring

The Fortune which to page and king

They brought in those good centuries,

When with a quaint and starry wand

Witches turned poor men’s thoughts to gold

And Cinderella’s carriage rolled

Through moonlight into Fairyland.

I may but wish you happiness:

Not Pleasure’s dusty fruit to find,

But wines of Mirth and Friendship kind,

And Love, to make with you a home.

But may Our Lord whose Son has come

Now heed the wish and make it true,

Even as elves were wont to do

When wishing could bring happiness.

K ings of the East did bring their gold

A nd jewels unto the cattle fold.

T he angel’s song was heard by men

“H oly! holy! holy!” then.

L ittle and weak in the manger He lay

E ven as you in a cradle to-day;

E ven as you did the Christ-child rest

N estling warm in His mother’s breast.

Gütersloh,

December 1916.