Noel

Star-dust and vaporous light,—
The mist of worlds unborn,—
A shuddering in the awful night
Of winds that bring the morn.

Now comes the dawn: the circling earth;
Creatures that fly and crawl;
And Man, that last, imperial birth;
And Christ, the flower of all.

More poems by Richard Watson Gilder

“Great Nature is an army gay”

Great Nature is an army gay,
Resistless marching on its way;
I hear the bugles clear and sweet, …
A Child

Her voice was like the song of birds;
Her eyes were like the stars;
Her little waving hands were like …
After-Song

Through love to light! Oh wonderful the way
That leads from darkness to the perfect day!
From darkness and from sorrow of the night …
Ah, Be Not False

Ah, be not false, sweet Splendor!
Be true, be good;
Be wise as thou art tender; …