Carol of the Day

This is a beautiful instrumental and absolutely NOT a reflection of my current mood. Not by a hair, that is. If you'd like, hum along in your most dolorous tone or sing the words below.

In the Bleak Mid-Winter by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)


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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Angels and archangels
  May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
  Thronged the air,
But only His mother¹
 In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
  With a kiss.
5. 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.