Twelve Days of Christmas Poetry: X

Another lullaby:

A Lullaby

Lullee, lullay,
I could not love thee more
If thou wast Christ the King.
Now tell me, how did Mary know
That in her womb should sleep and grow
The Lord of everything?

Lullee, lullay,
An angel stood with her
Who said, ‘That which doth stir
Like summer in thy side
Shall save the world from sin.
Then stable, hall and inn
Shall cherish Christmas-tide.’

Lullee, lullay,
And so it was that Day.
And did she love Him more
Because an angel came
To prophesy His name?
Ah no, not so,
She could not love Him more,
But loved him just the same.
Lullee, lullee, lullay.

-–Janet Lewis

(you can listen to the glorious Dawn Upshaw singing a snippet of this here, with the equally glorious Chanticleer providing delicious harmonic support–I’d recommend ordering the CD before listening, because afterwards you’ll be too melted to do much of anything)