A Tender Shoot
Otto Goldschmidt
""A tender shoot hath started
Up from a root of grace
As ancient seers imparted
From Jesse's holy race
It blooms without a blight
Blooms in the cold bleak winter
Turning our darkness into light
This shoot Isaiah taught us
From Jesse's root should spring
The Virgin Mary brought us
The branch of which we sing
Our God of endless might
Gave her this child to save us
Thus turning darkness into light""