The Oxford Book of Christmas Poems

by Michael Harrison, Christopher Stuart-Clark

This beautifully designed book contains well over 100 Christmas poems--old and new, traditional and modern--and features four sections starting in winter, moving through Advent, and arriving at the Nativity and the heart of the Christmas season. Finally, with the arrival of the Wise Men, comes the promise of a new year. Full of old chestnuts like "The Night Before Christmas," there are surprises here too in poems like Thomas Hardy's "Christmas: 1924" and Elizabeth Jennings' "Afterthought." Poets include Robert Lowell, John Betjeman, Elizabeth Coatsworth, William Blake, Madeleine L'Engle and many more. Along with a wide range of poems, the anthology contains some familiar verses and carols. All are festively decorated with Yuletide illustrations by many well-known artists.

Genres: Christmas, Poetry, Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 1987

About the author

Michael Harrison has written four teenage novels and has edited many highly-acclaimed poetry anthologies.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid

look the spangles
that sleep all year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
'Noel Noel'

e. e. cummings

[Julia Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don't like poem books but I liked this one because there is a lot of classic poems in here like the night before Christmas also another thing I liked about it is the beautiful illustration and I just how someone would put so much into a poem is just awsome

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love it when Christmas books creep into my January stack (it seems disorderly somehow), but since we're still celebrating Christmas until the 5th, it ends up being inevitable. And the Oxford Book of Christmas Poems concludes with a couple pages of New Year's poems, so finishing it today worked out beautifully.

This is not my favorite book of Christmas poems--there were a significant percentage that I didn't care for. But since it's the most comprehensive Christmas poetry book we have, it's certainly worth keeping.

[Janina Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection but not quite my cup of tea.

[Suzie Grogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this interesting collection of poetry, which offers more than simple Christmas favourites. Late autumn through to spring there is celebration and contemplation and thought provoking lines to make us think twice about the meaning of the season. I’ve had this book for years, to dip into, but for the first year I’ve read it cover to cover. Definitely worth returning to regularly.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection of poems, many of which I found quite delightful, though there were some I couldn't grasp seven after multiple readings. That I more likely a comment on my own poetic ignorance than on the merits of said poems.

I'm enjoying learning the art of reading poetry, mulling and turning over the images and phrases. The joy of a particularly pleasing rhyme or metaphor.

[Ms Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thought-provoking mix inspired by all aspects of the Christmas season: the Nativity is retold brilliantly from various points of view and there are also poems about churches, trees, carols, presents, shopping, the pain of writing thank you letters when you didn't get anything good, the solstice, the darkness and all manner of other subjects.

[John Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent selection, well illustrated and a Christmas treat which has found a good home.

It will be given a dusting again next Christmas (I hope).

[Alicia Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

First time reading this collection (2023) and can't say it had a lot in that I enjoyed. There were some good ones, but a lot that didn't do it for me.
However, I think things like this change each year, so, I'm thinking that each year I'll read it alongside all my other Christmas stories/poems in December, and I think perhaps a different year will render different opinions...perhaps even a better rating than 2 stars.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this little gem in an Oxfam bookshop while on holiday recently.

What a find! I own several poetry anthologies, but this is brimful of several poems I've never read before. Some old as time, some snappy and modern, and full of beautiful illustrations, this is one to treasure and include in my annual festive read rotation.

[Jenn Little · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish there was a negative star option. What a depressing book! Not at ALL what I want to read at Christmas time! Obviously some of the mainstays of Christmas poetry were included, but they were surrounded by such gloomy nonsense I hardly noticed! Do yourself a favor and buy ANY other anthology of Christmas poetry!

[mark mendoza · Rating 2 out of 5]

As to be expected, lots of Christo bs, with some great poems spattered in between.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently the season inspires few well-crafted poems. Aside from Thomas Hardy's "The Reminder" in my view there were not many worthy of celebration in this collection of verse.

[Pippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good collection, and lots of poems.

[Jack Emson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect poetry, not just for Christmas, but New Year too, x