When glowing, winter sun, resign,

‘Neath the shim’ring bosom’s line… 

The worldly rim her shadows fly

In hues of pearl, aureate gold,

On this, a frosty winter’s eve.

Earth, her knuckles cracked with years,

Streams, their channels burned to stony tears… 

Stone, and iron, leaf, and limb

All now bent ‘neath solstice eye,

On this, a frosty winter’s eve.

Snow, is falling, snow on snow, 

Wind, his sund’ring bellows blow… 

Branches creak in cruel decline

Moaning, groaning in cobalt skies

Their shadows stark in icy gloom,

On this, a frosty winter’s eve.

The candles’ quiet heads they dance,

Firelight in the gloaming prance… 

In windows here and windows there

Lanterns ‘midst the gath’ring dim,

Wreaths of holly, bells and stars,

On this, a frosty winter’s eve. 

Then people here and people there,

murmur words of sacred prayer… 

And hold their hands, and bow their heads,

and sing, the softly closing eve, goodnight,

On this, a frosty winter’s eve.