Tune: Yorkshire
('Christians awake, salute the happy morn')
Luke 1 v.67-79
*********
At John Baptist's birth Zacharias he
Spoke words of Benedictus prophecy
Said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
For He has visited, redeemed, I tell
His people, and has raised up as a horn
Strength of salvation, a new light of dawn
'Tis as he spoke by mouth of his holy
Prophets of old, since long as world has been
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from hand of all that hate us He frees
To perform the mercy promised to our
Fathers, it shall come to pass from this hour
To remember His holy covenant
The oath, promises to Abraham sent
That He would grant unto us, we being
Delivered from our enemies, now sing
And might serve Him without terror of fear
In holiness and righteousness here clear
Serving before Him through all our life's days
And you, son John, shall instruct us His ways
Prophet of the Highest, shall go before
To prepare the way of the Lord for sure
To give knowledge of salvation unto
His people by remission of sins, true
Through the tender mercy of our God near
The Dayspring, Dawn, has visited us here
To give light to them that sit in darkness
And the shadow of death, light to them bless
To guide our feet into the way of peace
Messiah's kingdom, endless, ne'er shall cease
-
Author:
orchidee (
Offline) - Published: December 24th, 2025 03:17
- Comment from author about the poem: A hymn-poem in 10.10.10.10.10.10. Based on a reading in some church service books for Christmas Eve.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 15
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments5
Orchi some coincidence that we both write about light today. A wonderful write a bit more complex that usual but beautiful all the same. Keep it up my friend and a most Merry Christmas to you
Thank you SB. Yes, hopefully not too cryptic. It refers to some historical things of Israel too. Merry Christmas to you too.
You are most welcome
Lovely as always orchi!!! A very merry Christmas to you and yours!!!
Thank you K. Greetings to you too!
So beautifully done, my dear friend, Merry Christmas 🌹
Thank you F. Greetings to you too!
Orchi, this is beautiful…steady, faithful, and musically grounded in a way that feels lived-in, not performative. You keep the blessing clear and strong, and the movement from darkness to light lands with real warmth. Loved this, my friend…now excuse me while I trip over my own incense because BENEDICTUS becomes BENNY-DICTUS MAXIMUS GLUGGUS and suddenly Popeyeus Glug Maxiumus Solus is over here chanting the Yorkshire tune through a can of slimy spinach like “glug…glug…GLUG” and I’m trying to be reverent but the glug has possessed the entire sanctuary. Glug on, my friend…glug on. 😅 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you T. I never knew P was a Yorkshireman! lol.
Good one Orchi.
Thank you Gold.
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