
Christmas Hymn by Edith Nesbit
The poem is a humble and introspective Christmas hymn that expresses the speaker's desire to praise and honor God despite feeling unworthy and lacking gifts. The speaker reflects on their past praises and hymns, acknowledging their love for God's creation and miracles. Although they can no longer sing or make music due to old age and blindness, they offer their past songs as echoes to God's birthday song, seeking to participate in the celestial celebration.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Religious, Poetry, Inspirational · 412 words
First lines
O Christ, born on the holy day, I have no gift to give my King; No flowers grow by my weary way; I have no birthday song to sing.
How can I sing Thy name and praise, Who never saw Thy face divine; Who walk in darkness all my days, And see no Eastern stars a-shine?
What this Textopian page supports
Christmas Hymn is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious, Poetry, Inspirational
- Length: 412 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Christmas Hymn by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Christmas Hymn?
- How does this poem by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Religious — The text is a hymn dedicated to Christ, with references to religious themes such as faith, devotion, and divine miracles.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form, with a rhythmic structure and poetic language.
- Inspirational — The text aims to inspire through its exploration of faith, devotion, and appreciation of the natural world.
Tags
Christmas · Hymn · Poetry · Religious · Christianity · Holiday · Seasonal · Winter · Festive · Joyful · Celebratory · Traditional
More by Edith Nesbit