Favorite Christmas Poems

by James Daley (Editor)

What would Christmas be without such charming and heartwarming poems as "A Visit from St. Nicholas"? That famous poem, also known as "The Night Before Christmas," is only one of the many sparkling highlights of this festive collection, a rich and varied compilation of yuletide verse that will enchant readers of all ages.
These poems range from serious seasonal reflections by Martin Luther ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come") and John Milton ("On the Morning of Christ's Nativity") to flights of fancy such as Lewis Carroll's "Christmas Greeting from a Fairy to a Child" and Kenneth Grahame's "Carol of the Field Mice" from The Wind in the Willows. Other contributors include Christina Rossetti, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, Thomas Hardy, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Sir Walter Scott. Twenty-five timeless black-and-white etchings, engravings, and drawings enhance this treasury of verse.

Genres: Christmas, Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2006

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

With selections by Luther, Kipling and Longfellow, you could hardly miss with this anthology. There are secular entries such as "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and sacred entries ranging from John Donne poems to traditional hymns. There were just a few poems that might be too long and tedious for modern readers, but most of these poems are enduring classics.

Where else will you read this breath-taking description of the incarnation that John Donne describes as "immensity cloistered in thy dear womb"? Or Luther's lovely lullaby: "Welcome to earth, Thou noble guest through whom the sinful world is blest."

It was a nice surprise to find this through my public library, but I can see how owning a personal copy would be advantageous for yearly perusal.

[Jenn Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unassuming little volume full of the poems you want to read at Christmas! 52 classic carols and poems are included. Most of them are standard fare, but I found a few not present in some of my larger anthologies. I was especially moved by "A Friend's Greeting" by Edgar A. Guest. I was also excited to see extra stanzas in Martin Luther's "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" which I had not previously known. I would not hesitate to recommend this collection as a good start to your Christmas poetry library!

[Judine Brey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of these poems which ranged from classic to more contemporary. I liked seeing all the verses from many of the standard Christmas carols. I did find myself losing focus on some of the older poems (like those by John Milton), and questioned why the editor used the old English spelling in Robert Southwell's "The Burning Babe."

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality of the poems varies from barely mediocre to profound. That's an accurate summation of most literature written specifically for Christmas, with the profound being in the minority but worth seeking out. The gems are "The Savior Must Have Been a Docile Gentleman" by Emily Dickinson, Christmas in India" by Rudyard Kipling (for something completely different), "Christmas and New Year Bells" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, and several that are the lyrics for well-loved Christmas Carols, like "Silent Night," "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," and "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day." What I like best of all is Thomas Hardy's "The Oxen," which captures the wonder of Christmas in a modern, cynical world so accurately that I can't help but ponder its words for days after every reading.