A poem by Paul Verlaine (1844-1896), taken from Liturgies in times. Published in 1892, this Christian-inspired collection of poems was republished the following year with seven new poems. Here is “Christmas”, which invites us to rediscover the innocence and poverty of early childhood.
Christmas
Little Jesus we must be;
if we want to see God the Father
give us rebirth
like pure children, naked, without further protection
of a stable and no other company
that a donkey and an ox, humble couple;
have infinite ignorance
and immense weakness
whereby humble childhood is blessed;
act without harm
our innocent flesh
even with a caress;
without our little visual sensation
painfully the glare
of the dawn that just fades,
of the coming night, supreme splendour,
without feeling any desire
More than a long, hot, pale dream…
In pure children compared to rough life
intended, – how severe or blessed
scope? – crowd enslaved
O free company, to what trial?
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