• Author: Bangs, J.K.
• Editor: B-7413
• Newspaper: The Umpire volume 5
• Page Number:
• Date: 12 20 1916
• Tags:
• poetry

THE SEASON'S GREETINGS A CHRISTMAS VISION By John Kendrick Bangs

On Christmas Eve 'mid all the joyous glee That in my plenteousness surrounded me, I happened by some chance to turn mine eye Out through a window-wreath that hung near by. And as I glanced through it into the night I seemed to see, lit by some holy light, A childish face with wistful, smiling lips That thrilled me to my very finger-tips.

Two eager hands stretched forth called, as in stress, To me to carry help to Helplessness And in the sad eyes of that child I saw In all its loveliness the Christmas Law— Not a command, no everlasting must Upon Reluctance for its teaching thrust, But just a pleading hint to him who runs That all who suffer are God's Little Ones!

And then the picture in the wreath was gone, And in its place the Eastern Star-beams shone— The same that nineteen centuries ago Led on the Wisemen with their heavenly glow; And e'en as they I wandered through the drifts And into lowly places carried gifts To cheer, and give release, and pay my due Unto my Lord thro' them that suffer rue.