The Burning Babe - Sting

As I in hoary winter's night

Stood shivering in the snow

Surprised I was with sudden heat

Which made my heart to glow;

And lifting up a fearful eye

To view what fire was near

A pretty babe all burning bright

Did in the air appear;

Who scorched with excessive heat

Such floods of tears did shed

As though His floods

Should quench His flames

Which with His tears were bred:

'Alas ' quoth He 'but newly born

In fiery heats I fry

Yet none approach to warm their hearts

Or feel my fire but I

'My faultless breast the furnace is;

The fuel wounding thorns;

Love is the fire and sighs the smoke;

The ashes shames and scorns;

The fuel Justice layeth on

And Mercy blows the coals

The metal in this furnace wrought

Are men's defiled souls:

For which as now on fire I am

To work them to their good

So will I melt into a bath

To wash them in my blood '

With this He vanish'd out of sight

And swiftly shrunk away

And straight I called unto mind

That it was Christmas Day