A Christmas Sonnet (For One in Doubt)

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

While you that in your sorrow disavow

Service and hope, see love and brotherhood

Far off as ever, it will do no good

For you to wear his thorns upon your brow

For doubt of him. And should you question how

To serve him best, he might say, if he could,

“Whether or not the cross was made of wood

Whereon you nailed me, is no matter now.”

Though other saviors have in older lore

A Legend, and for older gods have died—

Though death may wear the crown it always wore

And ignorance be still the sword of pride—

Something is here that was not here before,

And strangely has not yet been crucified.

Beauty Seen