Poem Talk: Long Long Ago

This poem is found in the book, A Treasury of Christmas Classics. It is one of the books I love to read during the holidays. There are classic poems and beautiful short stories in there. It even includes the classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

One of the poems I love is Long Long Ago. I have no idea who wrote it because the name of the poet was not written. It is a very simple poem and easy to understand, easy to memorize. If you are having a festive carol activity or event where kids are supposed to perform spoken word, this poem is perfect for it.

Christmas poems are beautifully written, and I hope to write a couple of them and publish them one day.

Stanza 1

Winds through the olive trees

Softly did blow,

Round little Bethlehem

Long, long ago.

This stanza takes us to the scene, and the time that the Christ child was born. The night was calm and the winds blew through the trees softly. I can imagine the sound of the wind, peaceful and quiet and soft.

Stanza 2

Sheep on the hillside lay

Whiter than snow;

Shepherds were watching them,

Long, long ago.

This stanza talks about the shepherds watching their white sheep. The sheep were lying down on the hill, and their shepherds sat by them, watching them with love.

Stanza 3

Then from the happy sky,

Angels bent low,

Singing their songs of joy,

Long, long ago.

In this stanza, the angels appear, singing songs of great joy unto the shepherds. I can imagine how it felt like to be sitting on the ground, with their flock and other shepherds and all of a sudden, a great light comes with angels singing in their melodious voices. How thrilling it would be.

Stanza 4

For in a manger bed,

Cradled we know,

Christ came to Bethlehem,

Long, long ago.

The Christ child is born, and he laid in the manger in Bethlehem.

I love the poem so much. It is dear to my heart. It is one of the Christmas poems I’ll cherish and teach.

Do you know of any Christmas poem that is dear to your heart?