A frosty Christmas Eve
When the stars were shining
I traveled forth alone
Where westward falls the hill
And for many, many a village
In the darkness of the valley
Distant music reached me
Peels of bells were ringing
Then sped my thoughts
To olden times
To that first of Christmases
When shepherds who were watching
Heard music in the fields
And they sat there
And they marveled
And they knew they could not tell
Whether it were angels
Or the bright stars a-singing
But to me heard afar
It was starry music
The singing of the angels
The comfort of our Lord
Words of old that come a-traveling
By the riches of the times
And I softly listened
As I stood upon the hill ---
And I softly listened
As I stood upon the hill
Robert Bridges
