Michael Appelt

Immerse yourself in the quiet beauty of Christmas with this special episode of Musical Poetry. Today’s reading features Christina Rossetti’s beloved poem “A Christmas Carol” — better known by its opening line, “In the bleak midwinter.”

Through tender words and timeless imagery, Rossetti captures the holiness of a winter night, the humility of the manger, and the simple, profound truth that the greatest gift we can offer is the gift of our heart.

This episode also includes an original Christmas R&B/Gospel song, created especially for this moment — a soulful, heartwarming blend of gentle piano, festive warmth, and a powerful female vocal performance rich with gospel influence. The music reflects the poem’s themes of light, devotion, and quiet wonder, building softly into a glowing, uplifting finale.

A Christmas Carolby Christina Rossetti (1872)

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But only His mother in her maiden bliss
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.