Lesson 3.3 The Poetry of Christina Rossetti Reading Assignments Poem #1 A Christmas Carol Enough for Him, whom angels In the bleak mid‐winter Fall down before, Frosty wind made moan, The ox and ass and camel Earth stood hard as iron, Which adore. Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Angels and archangels Snow on snow, May have gathered there, In the bleak mid‐winter Cherubim and seraphim Long ago. Thronged the air; But only His mother Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him In her maiden bliss Nor earth sustain; Worshipped the Beloved Heaven and earth shall flee away With a kiss. When He comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter What can I give Him, A stable‐place sufficed Poor as I am? The Lord God Almighty If I were a shepherd Jesus Christ. I would bring a lamb, If I were a Wise Man Enough for Him, whom cherubim I would do my part,— Worship night and day, Yet what I can I give Him, A breastful of milk Give my heart. And a mangerful of hay; ‐Christina Rossetti 1 Poem #2 A Birthday My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water'd shoot; My heart is like an apple‐tree Whose boughs are bent with thick‐set fruit; My heart is like a rainbow shell That paddles in a halcyon sea; My heart is gladder than all these, Because my love is come to me. Raise me a daïs of silk and down; Hang it with vair and purple dyes; Carve it in doves and pomegranates, And peacocks with a hundred eyes; Work it in gold and silver grapes, In leaves and silver fleurs‐de‐lys; Because the birthday of my life Is come, my love is come to me. ‐Christina Rossetti 2 Poem #3 Remember Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you planned: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad. ‐Christina Rossetti 3