1 Awake, glad heart! get up and sing! <br />2 It is the birth-day of thy King. <br />3 Awake! awake! <br />4 The Sun doth shake <br />5 Light from his locks, and all the way <br />6 Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day. <br /> <br />7 Awake, awake! hark how th' wood rings; <br />8 Winds whisper, and the busy springs <br />9 A concert make; <br />10 Awake! awake! <br />11 Man is their high-priest, and should rise <br />12 To offer up the sacrifice. <br /> <br />13 I would I were some bird, or star, <br />14 Flutt'ring in woods, or lifted far <br />15 Above this inn <br />16 And road of sin! <br />17 Then either star or bird should be <br />18 Shining or singing still to thee. <br /> <br />19 I would I had in my best part <br />20 Fit rooms for thee! or that my heart <br />21 Were so clean as <br />22 Thy manger was! <br />23 But I am all filth, and obscene; <br />24 Yet, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean. <br /> <br />25 Sweet Jesu! will then. Let no more <br />26 This leper haunt and soil thy door! <br />27 Cure him, ease him, <br />28 O release him! <br />29 And let once more, by mystic birth, <br />30 The Lord of life be born in earth.<br /><br />Henry Vaughan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/christ-s-nativity/
