Before The Paling of The Stars

 Before The Paling of The Stars

Before the paling of the stars,

 Before the winter morn,

 Before the earliest cock-crow,

 Jesus Christ was born;

 Born in a stable,

 Cradled in a manger.

In the world His hands had made, 

Born a stranger.

 Priest and king lay fast asleep

 In Jerusalem.

 Young and old lay fast asleep

 In crowded Bethlehem.

 Saint and angel, ox and ass,

 Kept a watch together

 Before the Christmas daybreak

 In the wintry weather.

Jesus on His Mother's breast

 In the stable cold,

 Spotless Lamb of God was He,

Shepherd of the fold;

 Let us kneel with Mary Maid,

 With Joseph bent and hoary

 With saint and angel, ox and ass,

To hail the King of Glory.

 - Christina E. Rossetti.