Religion

For Christmas-Day

by Christopher Smart 1722–1771

From Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1771)

Religion

High let us swell our tuneful Notes
And join th'angelic Throng,
For Angels no such Love have known,
T'awake a chearful song. T'awake, &c.

Good-will to sinful Men is shewn,
And Peace on Earth is giv'n,
For lo! th'incarnate Saviour comes
With Messages from Heav'n. With, &c.

Justice and Grace, with sweet Accord,
His rising Beams adorn;
Let Heav'n and Earth in Concert join,
Now such a Child is born. Now such, &c.

Glory to God in highest Strains,
In highest Worlds be paid;
His Glory by our Lips proclaim'd,
And by our Lives display'd. And by, &c.

When shall we reach those blissful Realms
Where Christ exalted reigns;
And learn of the Celestial Choir,
Their own immortal Strains. Their, &c.

✦ ✦ ✦

A Christmas hymn in which each stanza ends with a repeated half-line.

MLA

Smart, Christopher. “For Christmas-Day.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/6/.

Chicago

Smart, Christopher. “For Christmas-Day.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/6/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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