| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Christmas Rede | | By Jane Barlow (1857–1917) |
| | | FULL clear and bright this Christmas night range fields of Heaven fire-sown; | |
| But beam from star fled ne’er so far as mine Heart’s Light hath flown | |
| Since kindest eyes beneath yon skies fell dark and left me lone. | |
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| Ah, Mary blest! on kingly quest wise men had miss’d their way, | |
| But evermore they saw before a star of soothfast ray, | 5 |
| And follow’d, till its lamp stood still where He who lit it lay. | |
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| Such light to friend their search had end, now mine doth but begin, | |
| Yet, mother sweet, may wand’ring feet anigh thy Mansion win, | |
| Above that roof no star for proof need shine to guide them in. | |
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| If kindest eyes in olden wise smile soft to bid me learn | 10 |
| That Love, the flower of Earth’s dim hour, hath found a bower eterne | |
| Shall burn rose-red while stars be sped; tho’ stars dropt dead would burn. | | | | |
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