The Oxen - Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy writes about Christmas with his poem, "The Oxen." Read this famous work of poetry.

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock
'Now they are all on their knees.'
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
'Come, see the oxen kneel.'
IN the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know
I should g with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.