JRR Tolkien was much more than just a fiction writer – as any regular reader of this blog should know! He was a devout Catholic, and like CS Lewis (his good friend) his faith provided a rich theological backdrop to his writing. Here is a poem that Tolkien wrote about the birth of Jesus. It was published in 1936 (the year before the Hobbit), which means it came out before he was well-known. For this reason, the poem had been relatively obscure until being included in a collection of his works in 2013.

My favorite part is the way it contrasts the cold and dark of winter with the joy, light, and bells of Christmas. In particular, this can be seen by looking at the close parallel of opposites between the first and last stanza (a device he will also use to great effect, in reverse, in the Song of Durin that Gimli recites in Moria!).

Its image of the star is very appropriate as we celebrate the Epiphany this weekend, with the emphasis on the journey of the Magi. It is also fitting as today (Jan. 3rd) was Tolkien’s birthday! I pray all who read this have a merry conclusion to the Christmas season, and a blessed new year!

Grim was the world and grey last night:
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.

The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind,
the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.

The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.

Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.

Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.