aeternus

Holy Innocents

Us Herod slew, 

Willing to slay the infant Christ, our Lord. 

But from the sword 

Our tender life in globes of lighted dew 

Trickled and twinkling ran 

Before Him to the waste Egyptian, 

Gilding His way like glow-worms on the sward. 


Now in His house 

He draweth us to deck the Christmas fir 

From chest of myrrh; 

Whom as Aunt Mary bindeth on the boughs, 

Her eyes drop happy rain 

For sorrow past—and lo ! we live again 

As babies trembling in the tears of her.

- By “Q” 1896

Holy Innocents

Gold on gold, snow on snow,
Height on height, row on row;
Greater in numher these
Than the sands of the seas.


Yea, past all counting far,
Flower on flower, star on star,
Dimpled shoulder, cheek of peach,
As they lean each to each.


Golden heads, brows of pearl, ,
O many a boy and girl,
O many a girl and boy,
Mother’s grief, mother’s joy.


But amid snow and gold,
Gathered warm from the cold,
Fairer than gold or snow,
Should be two that I know.

- Katharine Tynan 1896

This second poem has such a great meaning for me, I think it was the ones I know who sent it to me…Image above:Duccio di Buoninsegna. Maesta (front, predella): The Massacre of the Innocents.