Beautiful stories wed with lovely days
Like words and music:— what shall be the tale
Of love and nobleness that might avail
To express in action what this sweetness says —
The sweetness of a day of airs and rays
That are strange glories on the winter pale?
Alas, O beauty, all my fancies fail!
I cannot tell a story in thy praise!
Thou hast, thou hast one — set, and sure to chime
With thee, as with the days of “winter wild;”
For Joy like Sorrow loves his blessed feet
Who shone from Heaven on Earth this Christmas-time
A Brother and a Saviour, Mary's child!—
And so, fair day, thou hast thy story sweet.