Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | | “O little town of Bethlehem” | | Phillips Brooks (1835–1893) |
| | | O LITTLE town of Bethlehem, | |
| How still we see thee lie! | |
| Above thy deep and dreamless sleep | |
| The silent stars go by; | |
| Yet in thy dark streets shineth | 5 |
| The everlasting Light; | |
| The hopes and fears of all the years | |
| Are met in thee to-night. | |
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| For Christ is born of Mary, | |
| And, gathered all above, | 10 |
| While mortals sleep, the angels keep | |
| Their watch of wondering love. | |
| O morning stars, together | |
| Proclaim the holy birth! | |
| And praises sing to God the King, | 15 |
| And peace to men on earth. | |
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| How silently, how silently, | |
| The wondrous gift is given! | |
| So God imparts to human hearts | |
| The blessings of His heaven. | 20 |
| No ear may hear His coming, | |
| But in this world of sin, | |
| Where meek souls will receive Him still, | |
| The dear Christ enters in. | |
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| O holy Child of Bethlehem! | 25 |
| Descend to us, we pray; | |
| Cast out our sin, and enter in, | |
| Be born in us to-day. | |
| We hear the Christmas angels | |
| The great glad tidings tell; | 30 |
| Oh come to us, abide with us, | |
| Our Lord Emmanuel! | | | | |
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