Christina Rossetti

Christina Rossetti målad av DanteGabriel Rossetti

 Så här i juletid kan du knappast ha undgått att höra "In the Bleak Midwinter", förmodligen en av Christina Rossettis mest kända dikter, som är tonsatt av Gustav Holst.

Christinas var syster till poeten och konstnären Dante Gabriel Rossetti. 

Med en italiensk far och halv-italiensk mor, var alla deras fyra barn tvåspråkiga och diktade på båda språken. Ett av familjens nöjen, från det att barnen var små, var att skriva dikter på ett givet ämne.

För den som vill veta mer om denna oerhört begåvade och intressanta familj finns mycket att läsa — vilket jag rekommenderar. Räcker inte det finns flera biografier hos Internet Archive.

I dag är det 127 år sedan Christina dog, och hennes bror Dante skrev den här dikten:

My Sister's Sleep

She fell asleep on Christmas Eve.

  Upon her eyes' most patient calms

  The lids were shut; her uplaid arms

Covered her bosom, I believe.

Our mother, who had leaned all day

  Over the bed from chime to chime,

  Then raised herself for the first time,

And as she sat her down, did pray.

Her little work-table was spread

  With work to finish. For the glare

  Made by her candle, she had care

To work some distance from the bed.

Without, there was a good moon up,

  Which left its shadows far within;

  The depth of light that it was in

Seemed hollow like an altar-cup.

Through the small room, with subtle sound

  Of flame, by vents the fireshine drove

  And reddened. In its dim alcove

The mirror shed a clearness round.

I had been sitting up some nights,

  And my tir'd mind felt weak and blank;

  Like a sharp strengthening wine, it drank

The stillness and the broken lights.

Silence was speaking at my side

  With an exceedingly clear voice:

  I knew the calm as of a choice

Made in God for me, to abide.

I said, “Full knowledge does not grieve:

  This which upon my spirit dwells

  Perhaps would have been sorrow else:

But I am glad 'tis Christmas Eve.”

Twelve struck. That sound, which all the years

  Hear in each hour, crept off; and then

  The ruffled silence spread again,

Like water that a pebble stirs.

Our mother rose from where she sat.

  Her needles, as she laid them down,

  Met lightly, and her silken gown

Settled: no other noise than that.

“Glory unto the Newly Born!”

  So, as said angels, she did say;

  Because we were in Christmas-day,

Though it would still be long till dawn.

She stood a moment with her hands

  Kept in each other, praying much;

  A moment that the soul may touch

But the heart only understands.

Almost unwittingly, my mind

  Repeated her words after her;

  Perhaps tho' my lips did not stir;

It was scarce thought, or cause assign'd.

Just then in the room over us

  There was a pushing back of chairs,

  As some who had sat unawares

So late, now heard the hour, and rose.

Anxious, with softly stepping haste,

  Our mother went where Margaret lay,

  Fearing the sounds o'erhead—should they

Have broken her long-watched for rest!

She stooped an instant, calm, and turned;

  But suddenly turned back again;

  And all her features seemed in pain

With woe, and her eyes gazed and yearned. 

For my part, I but hid my face,

  And held my breath, and spake no word:

  There was none spoken; but I heard

The silence for a little space.

My mother bowed herself and wept.

  And both my arms fell, and I said:

  “God knows I knew that she was dead.”

And there, all white, my sister slept.

Then kneeling, upon Christmas morn

  A little after twelve o'clock

  We said, ere the first quarter struck,

“Christ's blessing on the newly born!”