I like to fancy God, in Paradise,
  Lifting a finger o'er the rhythmic swing
Of chiming harp and song, with eager eyes
  Turned earthward, listening—

The Anthem stilled—the angels leaning there
  Above the golden walls—the morning sun
Of Christmas bursting flower-like with the prayer,
  "God bless us Every One!"

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
  Is it really come again,
With its memories and greetings,
  With its joy and with its pain?
There's a minor in the carol,
  And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
  With the holly wreath to-night.
And the hush is never broken
  By laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
  To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
  'Tis not so very long