Here is the little door
Herbert Howells
Here is the little door,
lift up the latch, oh lift!
We need not wander more,
but enter with our gift;
Our gift of finest gold.
Gold that was never bought or sold;
Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;
Incense in clouds about His head;
All for the child that stirs not in His sleep,
But holy slumber hold with ass and sheep.
Bend low about His bed,
For each He has a gift;
See how His eyes awake,
Lift up your hands, O lift!
For gold, He gives a keen-edged sword.
(Defend with it thy little Lord!)
For incense, smoke of battle red,
Myrrh for the honoured happy dead;
Gifts for His children, terrible and sweet;
Touched by such tiny hands,
and Oh such tiny feet.
Frances Chesterton (1869-1938)
Notes
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Pupil of Brewer, the organist of Gloucester Cathedral he later studied at the Royal College of Music. He succeeded Holst in 1934 as director of music at St, Paul's Girls' School.
Other songs by this Composer:
- Like as the hart Herbert Howells
- A spotless Rose Herbert Howells