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
Since other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing
As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no sigh to smother,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the “bells across the snow.”
O Christmas, merry Christmas!
This never more can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee.
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of good-will,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the “bells across the snow.”
Francis Ridley Havergal
Fleur in her World 
Beautiful.
Festive greetings and wishes to you too (and not forgetting Briar)!.
Have a lovely day with you and yours. Take care of yourself and let Briar take care of you!
Yes, lovely poem.
Best wishes to you and all yours.
Have a wonderful Christmas. All the very best.
Thank you for this verse. It is lovely and needed right now. Happy reading today and always…….
I love the bittersweet quality of this poem, for Christmas is a mixture of ‘pain’ and hope. Have a blessed day, and 2013~ Love, Bellezza
Very lovely poem. Merry Christmas! Enjoy your day.
Merry Christmas! Best wishes to you and especially Briar.
Merry Christmas!
What a lovely poem. Happy Christmas to you.
Hope you had a great Christmas Fleur