A Christmas Hymn

A Christmas Hymn was written by Richard Wilbur (1921-2017), an American poet admired for his clarity, musical lines, and love of traditional forms. Even when he is writing about big, holy themes, he keeps his language bright and tangible, with images you can almost touch. If you would like a quick sense of his life and the kind of poet he was, the biography at Poetry Foundation is a helpful starting point.

This poem opens in a stable, lit by a single lamp whose glow seems powerful enough to "wake the sky." Right away, Wilbur turns a simple barn into something radiant. Straw shines "like gold," and an ordinary stall becomes a shrine. It is a cozy, almost candlelit vision of Christmas, where the miracle feels close and real, not distant or grand in a cold way.

One of the poem's most memorable ideas is the repeated line that "every stone shall cry." Wilbur imagines all creation responding to Christ's life, not just at the Nativity, but as the story moves forward. The poem reaches beyond Bethlehem toward later scenes, including triumph and suffering, gently reminding us that Christmas is not only a sweet beginning, but part of a much larger, unfolding promise.

That deeper sweep is what makes the poem feel both comforting and bracing. It keeps the tenderness of a newborn child, while also acknowledging the cost and heartbreak that will come. The effect is not gloomy; it is steady and hopeful. The world is changed by this birth, and even the "heavy" things, the stones underfoot, are pictured as joining the song.

For Christmas readers who love to share meaningful lines in cards, scrapbooks, or crafts, A Christmas Hymn offers phrases that feel timeless and singable, with images that pair beautifully with simple designs. It is also a poem that rewards a second reading, especially once you notice how it ties Christmas joy to the rest of the Christian story. For one useful note on where the poem appeared in print, see the text and publication details collected at Hymnary.org.