Poetry Pleases: The Holy Night
William Ruleman presents a timely translation of “Die Heilige Nacht” By Eduard Mörike (1804-1875)
Blesséd be that Holy Night
He brought to us the world’s true light!
Snug under their starry canopy,
The shepherds lay on the sea-vast lea.
An angel of God, star-bright and clear,
Stepped up to them, and shivering with fear
They cloaked their faces, but he said
“No need to fret, friends. Have no dread.
To you, I say: be not forlorn—
For unto us a Savior is born.”
So then the shepherds hurry on
To see, with their own eyes, the One,
To sing their greetings to their guest,
To bring him a gift (a lamb seems best).
Soon drift in too, drawn from afar,
Three holy kings who’ve followed a star.
They kneel before the sweet little sir
And give him gold, incense, and myrrh.
A legion of angels exclaims from the sky:
“All glory be to God on high!”
--William Ruleman
