“People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.”
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.”
(first published as Carol of Advent)
Lisa December 3, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Love this “Carol of Advent”! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Elsa Louise December 3, 2011 at 5:54 pm
A beautiful image. Her expression is filled with a delightful sense of expectation. Are you the artist?
Lesley Austin December 3, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Dear Elsa Louise,
So glad you like the image…I used to use it in one of my Christmas cards. It is not my own, tho’ I adapted it and added the quote from the carol. Like all the vintage images I use, I found it in an old book of mine. This one came from a children’s story from the turn of the last century and was originally black and white.
Salina December 3, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Love that poem. I love that image. I still have the print I bought from you so long ago it seems.:)
Elsa Louise December 4, 2011 at 12:55 am
I like the quotation; it suits her well. The setting in sepia, instead of black and white, is lovely, too.
kerrie of sea cottage December 4, 2011 at 2:33 am
“love, the rose, is on its way…” is my favorite part of this Advent carol. I am new to celebrating advent and am drawn deeper to the peace this season gives.
Dori December 4, 2011 at 5:39 am
Such lovely image and verses. I think, Lesley dear, if one of us had had a girl, she would have looked so much like the little girl above! I just know it. Perhaps, in due time, a granddaughter. 🙂