The Magi by William Butler Yeats Now as at all times I can see in the mind’s eye, In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones Appear and disappear in the blue depth of the sky With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones, And all their helms of silver hovering side by side, […]
Christmas Poems
Welcome to our Christmas poems! Curl up fireside as we present a merry mix of holiday poems both classic and cutting-edge to fill your heart with good cheer this Yuletide season. From time-honored verses to ones penned by emerging poets, these festive rhymes capture the magical spirit of Christmas.
Start off by reminiscing with Alfred Lord Tennyson’s nostalgic "In Memoriam A.H.H." and Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved seafaring "Christmas At Sea." Recite Tennyson's bold traditional ode "Ring Out, Wild Bells" as we welcome the coming new year. Feel the wonder of Christmas night in Thomas Hardy's pastoral "The Oxen."
Transition to contemporary voices like Shweta Garg’s wintery "Snow Starved" and Lori Lipsky’s vivid "A Snow Day Hue" before getting swept up in Clement Clarke Moore's iconic "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." We've included Grace Curtis' charming contemporary ode to the Christmas tree itself as well.
Reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday with classics like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's resonant "Christmas Bells" and Robert Southwell’s moving "The Burning Babe" alongside D.H. Lawrence's modernist "Winter in the Boulevard."
This collection of both age-old and newly penned yuletide rhymes captures all that’s magical about poetry and Christmas! We'll keep adding to the lineup, but for now curl up by the fire and enjoy our holly jolly selections.
- The Magi by William Butler Yeats
- Christmas Comes Again by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Christmas Greetings by Lewis Carroll
- from: In Memoriam A.H.H. by Alfred Lord Tennyson
- Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson
- The Oxen by Thomas Hardy
- Thanksgiving Day by Lydia Maria Child
- Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
- Ode to the Christmas Tree by Grace Curtis
- Snow starved by Shweta Garg
- A Snow Day Hue by Lori Lipsky
- A Christmas Carol by James Russell Lowell
- Christmas in the Olden Time by Walter Scott
- Ballade of Christmas by Andrew Lang
- CHRISTMAS BELLS by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- The Burning Babe by Robert Southwell
- Winter In The Boulevard by D.H. Lawrence
Christmas Comes Again by Elizabeth Stoddard
Elizabeth Drew Stoddard (1823 – 1902) was a poet and novelist who brought fresh perspective to New England life through her Gothic-inspired writings.
Christmas Greetings by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, born in 1832 in Cheshire, England. Best known for his whimsical children’s stories
from: In Memoriam A.H.H. by Alfred Lord Tennyson
from: In Memoriam A.H.H. by Alfred Lord Tennyson XXVIII The time draws near the birth of Christ: The moon is hid; the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist. Four voices of four hamlets round, From far and near, on mead and moor, Swell out and […]
Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson
Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson The sheets were frozen hard, and they cut the naked hand; The decks were like a slide, where a seaman scarce could stand; The wind was a nor’wester, blowing squally off the sea; And cliffs and spouting breakers were the only things a-lee. They heard the surf a-roaring […]
Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, […]
The Oxen by Thomas Hardy
The Oxen by Thomas Hardy Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock. ‘Now they are all on their knees,’ An elder said as we sat in a flock By the embers in hearthside ease. We pictured the meek mild creatures where They dwelt in their strawy pen, Nor did it occur to one of us […]
Thanksgiving Day by Lydia Maria Child
This poem is popularly known as Over the river and Through the Wood. Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880) was a prominent American
Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, […]
Ode to the Christmas Tree by Grace Curtis
Grace Curtis’ chapbook, The Surly Bonds of Earth was selected by Stephen Dunn as the 2010 winner of the Lettre Sauvage chapbook contest. Grace’s work
Snow starved by Shweta Garg
I was snow starved all this time
Was eager for the fall to
Skirt in its random leaves and make way
For the white candy floss
A Snow Day Hue by Lori Lipsky
A Snow Day Hue by Lori Lipsky Solitude arrived today on the color white. It blew in at a diagonal with swirls of wind and achieved its blanket result before early night covered the gray. ### Lori Lipsky lives in Waunakee, WI with her husband and their daughter. She blogs at Visits and Verse: […]
A Christmas Carol by James Russell Lowell
A Christmas Carol by James Russell Lowell “What means this glory round our feet,” The Magi mused, “more bright than morn?” And voices chanted clear and sweet, “To-day the Prince of Peace is born!” “What means that star,” the Shepherds said, “That brightens through the rocky glen?” And angels, answering overhead, Sang, “Peace on earth, […]
Christmas in the Olden Time by Walter Scott
Christmas in the Olden Time by Walter Scott On Christmas-eve the bells were rung; The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hall was dressed with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry men go, To gather in the mistletoe. Thus opened wide the baron’s hall To vassal, tenant, serf and all; Power laid […]
Ballade of Christmas by Andrew Lang
Ballade of Christmas by Andrew Lang Between the moonlight and the fire In winter twilights long ago, What ghosts we raised for your desire, To make your merry blood run slow! How old, how grave, how wise we grow! No Christmas ghost can make us chill, Save those that troop in mournful row, The ghosts […]