The Oxen - Thomas Hardy
A Nostalgic Reflection on Christmas Eve Faith
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
“Come; see the oxen kneel
In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,”
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
Thomas Hardy’s poem “The Oxen” presents a nostalgic reflection on the power of childhood faith. It focuses on the old folk legend that at midnight on Christmas Eve, farm animals briefly kneel in reverence. The speaker recalls hearing this story as a child, gathered around the warmth of a hearth, and how, in that simpler time, none of them thought to question its truth. As adults, they have grown more doubtful, shaped by experience and modern skepticism. Yet, the poem hints at a deep-seated hope that the legend might still be real—if only someone would invite the speaker to witness it firsthand.
Through simple yet poignant language, Hardy contrasts childlike wonder with adult uncertainty. The “lonely barton” (a farmyard) and the familiar “coomb” (valley) symbolize a return to the landscapes of childhood, underscoring how old places and stories can evoke powerful memories. While the poem acknowledges the difficulty of fully recapturing the unquestioning faith of youth, it also affirms the value of believing—even momentarily—in something beyond logic. This tension reflects Hardy’s broader themes of nostalgia and the human need for wonder, particularly during periods of darkness or despair. In essence, “The Oxen” invites readers to consider how treasured myths and traditions can preserve hope, even when faced with life’s inevitable uncertainties.
Key points
1. Childhood beliefs and traditions retain their emotional power into adulthood. 2. Hardy’s poem underscores the longing for wonder amid modern skepticism. 3. Nostalgia can be both comforting and tinged with sadness as we confront reality. 4. Faith and myth can provide solace, even when reason challenges their literal truth.