The Star's Story

When the great Star shone 
From its mighty station 
So shepherds, tranced, 
Knelt down in the dew, 
It was not alone 
In its jubilation. 
The little stars danced 
By the thousands, too. 

They danced on high 
 In that peerless hour, 
 Till giddy with praising 
The Christ child's birth 
 They reeled from the sky 
And fell in a shower, 
Burning and blazing, 
Down to earth-- 

Slid in astonished 
Avalanches 
 (But leaning to listen Along the way) 
To lodge in a burnished 
Pine tree's branches 
Where still they, glisten 
 To this very day. 

For if you believe 
What pale and shaken 
Home returning 
Travelers tell, 
On Christmas Eve 
Those little stars waken 
 As bright and burning 
As when they fell. 

Look out of the West 
When the year's unwinding, 
Perhaps they will dance 
And you may see 
A pine that is dressed 
In light so blinding 
It dazzles the glance. 
And that will be 
 The world's first, merriest 
Christmas tree.