The Inn of the Star
"The Inn of the Star" by Helen Gray Cone is a short lyric poem that uses the figure of the weary Old Year as a traveler descending a hill toward a small, sleeping town at the close of the year, drawn by a guiding ray of light emanating from an inn marked by a star. The Old Year sets aside his staff and removes his worn shoes, lays down his burden, and rests at a welcoming table where old jests are shared and old songs rise around a fire, while faint bells ring like echoes of former days. He sleeps one night in peace, wrapped in the comfort of faith, and in his dreams the wind becomes mystic music and the face of the Christ Child shines as a luminous presence. The poem then turns to address all human beings, drawing a parallel between the Old Year's journey and our own passage down the long slope of time. Whether our hopes have been fulfilled or extinguished, whether our griefs are heavy or light, we too are invited to rest for a night at the Inn of the Star, which stands as an image of Christmas shelter, spiritual renewal, and the grace available to all at the turning of the year.
By Helen Gray Cone · First published 1921 · Genre: Poetry, Allegory, Inspirational