A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Gilbert Keith Chesterton

God rest you merry gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay;

The Herald Angels cannot sing,

The cops arrest them on the wing,

And warn them of the docketing

Of anything they say.

God rest you merry gentlemen,

May nothing you dismay:

On your reposeful cities lie

Deep silence, broken only by

The motor horn's melodious cry,

The hooter's happy bray.

So, when the song of children ceased

And Herod was obeyed,

In his high hall Corinthian

With purple and with peacock fan,

Rested that merry gentleman;

And nothing him dismayed.