Behold the father is his daughter's son, <br />The bird that built the nest is hatched therein, <br />The old of years an hour hath not outrun, <br />Eternal life to live doth now begin, <br />The Word is dumb, the mirth of heaven doth weep, <br />Might feeble is, and force doth faintly creep. <br /> <br />O dying souls, behold your living spring; <br />O dazzled eyes, behold your sun of grace; <br />Dull ears, attend what word this Word doth bring; <br />Up, heavy hearts, with joy your joy embrace. <br />From death, from dark, from deafness, from despairs <br />This life, this light, this Word, this joy repairs. <br /> <br />Gift better than himself God doth not know; <br />Gift better than his God no man can see. <br />This gift doth here the giver given bestow; <br />Gift to this gift let each receiver be. <br />God is my gift, himself he freely gave me; <br />God's gift am I, and none but God shall have me. <br /> <br />Man altered was by sin from man to beast; <br />Beast's food is hay, hay is all mortal flesh. <br />Now God is flesh and lies in manger pressed <br />As hay, the brutest sinner to refresh. <br />O happy field wherein that fodder grew, <br />Whose taste doth us from beasts to men renew.<br /><br />St. Robert Southwell SJ<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-nativity-of-christ-2/
