Mary, heed a mother's woe;

Mary, heed a mother's tears!

Thou, whose heart so long ago

Knew the pangs and hopes and fears

We poor mortal mothers know;

Thou, to whom, on Christmas-morn,

Christ, the Son of God, was born;

Thou whose mother-love hath pressed

The sweet Babe against thy breast;

And with wondering joy hath felt