Poems (Lambert)/Christmas, North, 1866

by Mary Eliza Perine Tucker Lambert

CHRISTMAS, NORTH, 1866.

HAIL, all hail thou glorious morning!
 Day of our Redeemer's birth,
With grateful hearts we greet thy dawning,
 There is a Saviour born for earth.
Christmas bells, with joyful chime,
Swell the glad triumphant rhyme.
Hail all hail this glorious morn,
A Saviour for each soul is born!

Every thing seems glad about me,
 Every zephyr thrills with glee,
Is the gladness all without me?
 Is there no real bliss for me?
Shall I on this day repine,
At Thy decree, Thy will divine?
No, Lord, I raise my feeble voice,
The South will with the North rejoice!

Shed one tear for fond hopes blasted—
 One tear for our noble dead—
One tear for our loved homes wasted—
 One tear o'er our banner shed.
Dead hopes, loved homes, father, brother,
Bury them, one by the other—
Ne'er again our banner wave,
But place it gently o'er the grave.

Nay, chide me not, that I have spoken
 Words of sadness on this day.
Hearts will bleed, that still are broken,
 Kindness wipes the stain away.
Should hasty word reveal our grief,
Forgive us, it may bring relief:
And conquerors should grant the foe
A thought, a word, nor anger show.

Conquered! Yes, proclaim it loudly,
 Conquered by the arm of might!
Subjugation's yoke wear proudly;
 Say, "He doeth all things" right.
Yet one tear more for Southern land,
One tear for scattered household band;
One tear for severed earthly ties—
Then let our Christmas thanks arise.

Thanks—we have still some comfort left us;
 Thanks for home in stranger land;
Thanks that war has not bereft us,
 Of Thy dear sustaining hand.
Hearts and voices join in the chorus,
The angel Peace now hovers o'er us.
Hail, holy day, throughout the earth;
Hail, Mary, who gave Jesus birth;
Hail, Master, Lord—hail, Peace descending!
The North and South—Love's songs are blending!