During her life she published hundreds of poems, mainly with religious themes, although she also wrote books of poems for children. I own and have read the Penguin edition of The Complete Poems, so that tells you that she is one of my favorite poets, perhaps my favorite.
You may actually be familiar with one of her poems written in 1872 that she titled “A Christmas Carol.” It is better known by the first line “In the Bleak Midwinter.” Composer Gustav Holst (The Planets) set the poem to music in 1906. I think he is spot on in his setting, peaceful and slightly melancholy. So take four and a half minutes to calm your soul and listen to this performance by Quire Cleveland, an early music ensemble.
A Christmas Carol
In the bleak mid-winter
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 mid-winter
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 mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.
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.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Throng’d the air,
But only His mother
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.
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