No answer came from the dome of blue, nor
  comfort lurked in the cypress-trees;
But faint came a whisper borne along on the
  scented wings of the passing breeze: 
“Little gray lamb that prays this night,
I cannot give thee a fleece of white.”

Then the little gray lamb of the sleepless eyes
    prayed to the clouds for a coat of snow,
Asked of the roses, besought the woods; but
    each gave answer sad and low: 
  “Little gray lamb that prays this night,
  We cannot give thee a fleece of white.”

Like a gem unlocked from a casket dark, like
    an ocean pearl from its bed of blue,
Came, softly stealing the clouds between, a
    wonderful star which brighter grew
  Until it flamed like the sun by day
  Over the place where Jesus lay.

Ere hushed were the angels’ notes of praise
    the joyful shepherds had quickly sped
Past rock and shadow, adown the hill, to kneel
    at the Saviour’s lowly bed;
  While, like the spirits of phantom night,
  Followed their flocks—­their flocks of white.

And patiently, longingly, out of the night,
    apart from the others,—­far apart,—­
Came limping and sorrowful, all alone, the
    little gray lamb of the weary heart,
  Murmuring, “I must bide far away: 
  I am not worthy—­my fleece is gray.”

And the Christ Child looked upon humbled
    pride, at kings bent low on the earthen floor,
But gazed beyond at the saddened heart of the
    little gray lamb at the open door;
And he called it up to his manger low and laid
    his hand on its wrinkled face,
While the kings drew golden robes aside to
    give to the weary one a place. 
  And the fleece of the little gray lamb was blest: 
  For, lo! it was whiter than all the rest!

* * * * *

In many cathedrals grand and dim, whose windows
    glimmer with pane and lens,
Mid the odor of incense raised in prayer, hallowed
    about with last amens,
The infant Saviour is pictured fair, with
    kneeling Magi wise and old,
But his baby-hand rests—­not on the gifts, the
    myrrh, the frankincense, the gold—­
  But on the head, with a heavenly light,
  Of the little gray lamb that was changed to white.

THE HOLY NIGHT

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem;
The dumb kine from their fodder turning them,
  Softened their horned faces
  To almost human gazes
  Toward the newly Born: 
The simple shepherds from the star-lit brooks
  Brought visionary looks,
As yet in their astonied hearing rung
  The strange sweet angel-tongue: 
The magi of the East, in sandals worn,
  Knelt reverent, sweeping round,
  With long pale beards, their gifts upon the ground,
  The incense, myrrh, and gold
These baby hands were impotent to hold: 
So let all earthlies and celestials wait
  Upon thy royal state. 
  Sleep, sleep, my kingly One!