Early Christmas Eve.

 I enjoy rising early, having a quiet breakfast then going through to the hobby corner. Working by the light of my hobby lamp ( everyone else is asleep or at work) all is dark inside and outside,I paint and wait for dawn to come. It is a chance to think too. The Solstice is past, days begin to lengthen.

The tree is done , the comestibles got and we are pretty organised. Yesterday Santa came early in the form of good news about a friend., which was terrific.

Soon I will get up , thinking of Christmas Eves of long ago and those of more recent times. This year we are at home on Christmas Day , first time for ages. It will be different but hopefully one all enjoy. Finally a poem

Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913 — Robert Bridges.
Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.

A frosty Christmas Eve
   when the stars were shining
Fared I forth alone
   where westward falls the hill,
And from many a village
   in the water’d valley
Distant music reach’d me
   peals of bells a-ringing:
The constellated sounds
   ran sprinking on earth’s floor
As the dark vault above
   with stars was spangled o’er.

Then sped my thoughts to keep
   that first Christmas of all
When the shepherds watching 
   by their folds ere the dawn
Heard music in the fields
   and marvelling could not tell
Whether it were angels
   or the bright stars singing.

Now blessed be the tow’rs
   that crown England so fair
That stand up strong in prayer
   unto God for our souls:
Blessed be their founders
   (said I) an’ our country folk
Who are ringing for Christ
   in the belfries to-night
With arms lifted to clutch
   the rattling ropes that race
Into the dark above
   and the mad romping din.

But to me heard afar
   it was starry music
Angels’ song, comforting
   as the comfort of Christ
When he spake tenderly
   to his sorrowful flock:
The old words came to me
   by the riches of time
Mellow’d and transfigured
   as I stood on the hill
Heark’ning in the aspect
   of th’ eternal silence.

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