24 December, A Chesterton Calendar

DECEMBER 24th
 

CHRISTMAS EVE

THE TRUCE OF CHRISTMAS

 

Passionate peace is in the sky—  

And in the snow in silver sealed 

The beasts are perfect in the field,  

And men seem men so suddenly— 

(But take ten swords and ten times ten  

And blow the bugle in praising men; 

For we are for all men under the sun,  

And they are against us every one;  

And misers haggle and madmen clutch 

And there is peril in praising much,  

And we have the terrible tongues uncurled  

That praise the world to the sons of the world).

 

The idle humble hill and wood  

Are bowed about the sacred birth,  

And for one little hour the earth 

Is lazy with the love of good—  

(But ready are you, and ready am I, 

If the battle blow and the guns go by;  

For we are for all men under the sun, 

And they are against us every one; 

And the men that hate herd all together,  

To pride and gold, and the great white feather,  

And the thing is graven in star and stone  

That the men who love are all alone).

 
Hunger is hard and time is tough,  
But bless the beggars and kiss the kings, 
For hope has broken the heart of things,  
And nothing was ever praised enough. 
(But hold the shield for a sudden swing 
And point the sword when you praise a thing,  
For we are for all men under the sun,  
And they are against us every one,  
And mime and merchant, thane and thrall  
Hate us because we love them all,  
Only till Christmastide go by 
Passionate peace is in the sky).  

'The Commonwealth.'