Ceremonies for Christmas / Robert Herrick

         
Ceremonies for Christmas

        Come, bring with a noise,
        My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,
        While my good dame, she
        Bids ye all be free,
And drink to your heart’s desiring.

        With the last year’s brand
        Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending,
        On your psalteries play,
        That sweet luck may
Come while the log is a-teending.

        Drink now the strong beer,
        Cut the white loaf here,
The while the meat is a-shredding;
        For the rare mince-pie
        And the plums stand by,
To fill the paste that’s a-kneading.

~~
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
from Hesperides, 1648

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

Robert Herrick biography