Who's that knocking on the window, Who's that standing at the door, What are all those presents Laying on the kitchen floor?
Who is the smiling stranger With hair as white as gin, What is he doing with the children And who could have let him in?
Why has he rubies on his fingers, A cold, cold crown on his head, Why, when he caws his carol, Does the salty snow run red?
Why does he ferry my fireside As a spider on a thread, His fingers made of fuses And his tongue of gingerbread?
Why does the world before him Melt in a million suns, Why do his yellow, yearning eyes Burn like saffron buns?
Watch where he comes walking Out of the Christmas flame, Dancing, double-talking:
Herod is his name.
Charles Causley's poems have often been set to music, not invariably with great good taste or with his consent, though I believe that Johnny Coppin is an honourable exception. They are much-anthologised, and often used as set texts for school exams.
Coppin's setting has appeared on his recordings Songs and Carols for a West Country Christmas (Red Sky RSKCD111, 1990) and A Journey (Red Sky CD - RSCD116, 2000).