In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti

“In the Bleak Midwinter”

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.

A Gift Worth of a King

I know I’ve posted several Rossetti poems this year, but I can’t even help it. Her simplicity is beautiful, and her depth is worth pondering. This familiar Christmas hymn is no exception. I especially love the juxtaposition between the first and second half of each stanza—the contrast between the majesty and worth of Christ the King, and the unfathomable humility of Jesus the baby. Her imagery captures it perfectly.

I love her repetition of words like “sufficed,” “enough,” and “only.” She’s drawing attention to a truth so big that we still can’t comprehend it even with all the repetition: the King of Kings was satisfied with nothing. A bleak stable, some milk, a bed of hay, and his mother’s kiss—these were enough for Emmanuel, God with us.

When she contemplates the God of Glory contentedly dreaming in a trough of animal feed, Rossetti is impelled to give him a gift. But what can she offer to the One who owns it all, is content with nothing, and deserves everything? The only thing she can offer: her heart. This Christmas, may we bring the gift of our own hearts to Jesus and find true life in return. Merry Christmas, friends!