(totally unrelated photo that I found of my oldest from almost 12 years ago)
My fourth grader had the first stanza of this poem by Isaac Watts in his dictation book last week. When I shared it on Instagram, a kind follower recommended that I read the whole poem. (Thanks, Lauren!) She described it as hauntingly beautiful and that’s so true. Copying it here to remember.
Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber,
Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment,
House and home, thy friends provide;
All without thy care or payment:
All thy wants are well supplied.
How much better thou’rt attended
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven He descended
And became a child like thee!
Soft and easy is thy cradle:
Coarse and hard thy Savior lay,
When His birthplace was a stable
And His softest bed was hay.
Blessed babe! what glorious features –
Spotless fair, divinely bright!
Must He dwell with brutal creatures?
How could angels bear the sight?
Was there nothing but a manger
Cursed sinners could afford
To receive the heavenly stranger?
Did they thus affront their Lord?
Soft, my child: I did not chide thee,
Though my song might sound too hard;
‘Tis thy mother sits beside thee,
And her arms shall be thy guard.
Yet to read the shameful story
How the Jews abused their King,
How they served the Lord of Glory,
Makes me angry while I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round Him,
Telling wonders from the sky!
Where they sought Him, there they found Him,
With His Virgin mother by.
See the lovely babe a-dressing;
Lovely infant, how He smiled!
When He wept, the mother’s blessing
Soothed and hush’d the holy child.
Lo, He slumbers in His manger,
Where the horned oxen fed:
Peace, my darling, here’s no danger,
Here’s no ox a-near thy bed.
May’st thou learn to know and fear Him,
Trust and love Him all thy days;
Then go dwell forever near Him,
See His face and sing His praise!
I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother’s fondest wishes
Can to greater joy aspire.
