In the Bleak Midwinter

Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

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.

Verse 3

Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day, a breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay: enough for him whom angels fall down before, the ox and ass and camel which adore.

Verse 4

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air, but only his mother, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.

Verse 5

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.