In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ. Enough for Him whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angel and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Throng’d the air, But only His mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part, - Yet what can I give Him, Give Him my heart. ++++++++++++++++ The poet may very well have had some kind of Ignatian insight. By mentioning the shepherds and the wise men, she is painting the picture of the Nativity scene. And with the last two lines she is inviting us right in. What could be more Ignatian than that? (Maria Kelsey) +++++++++++++++++++++++ Gustave Holst wrote a musical version of this poem - In the Bleak Midwinter [1]