New Year’s Eve.
The branches were all laden
With such things as children prize,
Bright gift for boy and maiden,
She saw them with her eyes.
With such things as children prize,
Bright gift for boy and maiden,
She saw them with her eyes.
And she almost seemed to touch them,
And to join the welcome shout;
When darkness fell around her,
For the little match was out.
And to join the welcome shout;
When darkness fell around her,
For the little match was out.
Another, yet another, she
Has tried, they will not light,
Till all her little store she took,
And struck with all her might.
Has tried, they will not light,
Till all her little store she took,
And struck with all her might.
And the whole miserable place
Was lighted with the glare,
And lo, there hung a little child
Before her in the air.
Was lighted with the glare,
And lo, there hung a little child
Before her in the air.
There were blood-drops on his forehead,
And a spear-wound in his side,
And cruel nail-prints in his feet,
And in his hands spread wide.
And a spear-wound in his side,
And cruel nail-prints in his feet,
And in his hands spread wide.
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