Christmas (V)

While snows the window-panes bedim

The fire curls up a sunny charm
Where creaming o'er the pitchers rim
The flowering ale is set to warm
Mirth full of joy as summer bees
Sits there its pleasures to impart
& children tween their parents' knees
Sing scraps of carols o'er by heart

& some to view the winter weathers

Climb up the window-seat with glee
Likening the snow to falling feathers
In fancy's infant ecstasy
Laughing with superstitious love
O'er visions wild that youth supplies
Of people pulling geese above
& keeping Christmas in the skies

(lines 65 - 80)

'December'

The Shepherd's Calendar (1827)

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