A Christmas Carol / J. Ashby-Sterry

A Christmas Carol

'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe,
     When holly-berries glisten bright;
When Christmas fires gleam and glow
When wintry winds so wildly blow,
     And all the meadows round are white —
'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe!

How happy then are Fan and Flo,
     With eyes a-sparkle with delight!
When Christmas fires gleam and glow,
When dainty dimples come and go,
     And maidens shrink with feignëd fright —
'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe!

A privilege 'tis then, you know,
     To exercise time-honoured rite;
When Christmas fires gleam and glow
When loving lips may pout, although
    With other lips they oft unite —
'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe!

If Florry then should whisper "No!"
     Such whispers should be stifled quite,
When Christmas fires gleam and glow;
If Fanny's coy objecting "O!"
     Be strangled by a rare foresight —
'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe!

When rosy lips, like Cupid's bow,
     Assault provokingly invite,
When Christmas fires gleam and glow,
When slowly falls the sullen snow,
     And dull is drear December night —
'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe!

~~

J. Ashby-Sterry (1836-1917)

from The Lazy Minstrel, 1886

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

J. Ashby-Sterry biography