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23/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas poem VIChristmas Tears
'Christmas cheer is not found here, children, we are too poor. What's left instead, moldy and stale bread, and no fancy wreaths on our door. We'll have no tree but something came to me and it'll cure those blues of yours.' Then Mother took lights, and at tree height, afixed them from ceiling to floor Criss-crossed and V-ed yes, it turned out to be the most beautiful tree evermore... And with that act, I knew for a fact, Mother deserved to be adored! Then Father came in reeking of his gin looked upon this and was floored! His face ghastly, turned bitter and nasty, Christmas lights from the wall he tore 'I'll have none of this! ' and he said with a hiss, 'Woman, you are a stupid wh*re.' And he left a mess kinda like us, I guess as we all cried of Christmas's of yore Still, as Mother was blue She said, 'This was meant for you' And the lights went on the wall once more She said, 'Don't hate, Father's anger will abate... He is only sad that we are so poor.' This happened to be, Christmas of 1983, the saddest of that I am sure. But what I've learned... love given is love returned and happiness is something to fight for. (by Lee Degnan)
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22/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas Poem VThe Christmas Tree
In the dark and damp of the alley cold, Lay the Christmas tree that hadn't been sold; By a shopman dourly thrown outside; With the ruck and rubble of Christmas-tide; Trodden deep in the muck and mire, Unworthy even to feed a fire... So I stopped and salvaged that tarnished tree, And thus is the story it told to me: "My Mother was Queen of the forest glade, And proudly I prospered in her shade; For she said to me: 'When I am dead, You will be monarch in my stead, And reign, as I, for a hundred years, A tower of triumph amid your peers, When I crash in storm I will yield you space; Son, you will worthily take my place.' "So I grew in grace like a happy child, In the heart of the forest free and wild; And the moss and the ferns were all about, And the craintive mice crept in and out; And a wood-dove swung on my highest twig, And a chipmunk chattered: 'So big! So big!' And a shy fawn nibbled a tender shoot, And a rabbit nibbled under my root... Oh, I was happy in rain and shine As I thought of the destiny that was mine! Then a man with an axe came cruising by And I knew that my fate was to fall and die. "With a hundred others he packed me tight, And we drove to a magic city of light, To an avenue lined with Christmas trees, And I thought: may be I'll be one of these, Tinselled with silver and tricked with gold, A lovely sight for a child to behold; A-glitter with lights of every hue, Ruby and emerald, orange and blue, And kiddies dancing, with shrieks of glee - One might fare worse than a Christmas tree. "So they stood me up with a hundred more In the blaze of a big department store; But I thought of the forest dark and still, And the dew and the snow and the heat and the chill, And the soft chinook and the summer breeze, And the dappled deer and the birds and the bees... I was so homesick I wanted to cry, But patient I waited for someone to buy. And some said 'Too big,' and some 'Too small,' And some passed on saying nothing at all. Then a little boy cried: Ma, buy that one,' But she shook her head: 'Too dear, my son." So the evening came, when they closed the store, And I was left on the littered floor, A tree unwanted, despised, unsold, Thrown out at last in the alley cold." Then I said: "Don't sorrow; at least you'll be A bright and beautiful New Year's tree, All shimmer and glimmer and glow and gleam, A radiant sight like a fairy dream. For there is a little child I know, Who lives in poverty, want and woe; Who lies abed from morn to night, And never has known an hour's delight..." So I stood the tree at the foot of her bed: "Santa's a little late," I said. "Poor old chap! Snowbound on the way, But he's here at last, so let's be gay." Then she woke from sleep and she saw you there, And her eyes were love and her lips were prayer. And her thin little arms were stretched to you With a yearning joy that they never knew. She woke from the darkest dark to see Like a heavenly vision, that Christmas Tree. Her mother despaired and feared the end, But from that day she began to mend, To play, to sing, to laugh with glee... Bless you, O little Christmas Tree! You died, but your life was not in vain: You helped a child to forget her pain, And let hope live in our hearts again. (by Robert William Service) 22/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas Poem IVChristmas Eve Candlelight
Mine eyes have seen the Christmas of the many years before The children lay asleep in bed, the presents on the floor The tree decorated with its many twinkling lights The snow that slowly falls outside like Angel dust at night The wind outside is calm upon this holy night As I light one candle for a star that once shined bright The children as they sleep, they dream of Santa’s sleigh They vision all his Reindeer, they see him on his way I think about the world and how it has come to be The soldier that’s not coming home, the broken families I think about the child somewhere that tonight no food to eat The gift of life a soul tonight fights desperately to keep I think about the Christmases that have all come and gone And how somewhere the tears will fall, someone cries alone I think about the love in this world that needs to be And as I say a silent prayer, one candle comforts me I wish somehow that if life it could allow me more to give So that love within this world somehow could flourish and could live But I am but the soul of one whose children sleep tonight While the Angels decorate in snow the earth just outside And as my children wake up and they laugh and they play I hope for you love it comes too, for you it too awakes And as I sit this Christmas eve tonight this holy night Know you world and all my love from beneath one candle light. (by Bill Simmons) 22/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas Poem IIIThe Christmas Goose
Mr. Smiggs was a gentleman, And he lived in London town; His wife she was a good kind soul, And seldom known to frown. 'Twas on Christmas eve, And Smiggs and his wife lay cosy in bed, When the thought of buying a goose Came into his head. So the next morning, Just as the sun rose, He jump'd out of bed, And he donn'd his clothes, Saying, "Peggy, my dear. You need not frown, For I'll buy you the best goose In all London town." So away to the poultry shop he goes, And bought the goose, as he did propose, And for it he paid one crown, The finest, he thought, in London town. When Smiggs bought the goose He suspected no harm, But a naughty boy stole it From under his arm. Then Smiggs he cried, "Stop, thief! Come back with my goose!" But the naughty boy laugh'd at him, And gave him much abuse. But a policeman captur'd the naughty boy, And gave the goose to Smiggs, And said he was greatly bother'd By a set of juvenile prigs. So the naughty boy was put in prison For stealing the goose., And got ten days' confinement Before he got loose. So Smiggs ran home to his dear Peggy, Saying, "Hurry, and get this fat goose ready, That I have bought for one crown; So, my darling, you need not frown." "Dear Mr Smiggs, I will not frown: I'm sure 'tis cheap for one crown, Especially at Christmas time -- Oh! Mr Smiggs, it's really fine." "Peggy. it is Christmas time, So let us drive dull care away, For we have got a Christmas goose, So cook it well, I pray. "No matter how the poor are clothed, Or if they starve at home, We'll drink our wine, and eat our goose, Aye, and pick it to the bone." (by William Topaz McGonagall) 20/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas poem IIChristmas
Christmas is come and every hearth Makes room to give him welcome now E'en want will dry its tears in mirth And crown him wi' a holly bough Tho tramping 'neath a winters sky O'er snow track paths and rhymey stiles The huswife sets her spining bye And bids him welcome wi' her smiles Each house is swept the day before And windows stuck wi' evergreens The snow is beesom'd from the door And comfort crowns the cottage scenes Gilt holly wi' its thorny pricks And yew and box wi' berrys small These deck the unus'd candlesticks And pictures hanging by the wall Neighbours resume their anual cheer Wishing wi smiles and spirits high Clad christmass and a happy year To every morning passer bye Milk maids their christmass journeys go Accompanyd wi favourd swain And childern pace the crumping snow To taste their grannys cake again Hung wi the ivys veining bough The ash trees round the cottage farm Are often stript of branches now The cotters christmass hearth to warm He swings and twists his hazel band And lops them off wi sharpend hook And oft brings ivy in his hand To decorate the chimney nook Old winter whipes his ides bye And warms his fingers till he smiles Where cottage hearths are blazing high And labour resteth from his toils Wi merry mirth beguiling care Old customs keeping wi the day Friends meet their christmass cheer to share And pass it in a harmless way Old customs O I love the sound However simple they may be What ere wi time has sanction found Is welcome and is dear to me Pride grows above simplicity And spurns it from her haughty mind And soon the poets song will be The only refuge they can find The shepherd now no more afraid Since custom doth the chance bestow Starts up to kiss the giggling maid Beneath the branch of mizzletoe That neath each cottage beam is seen Wi pearl-like-berrys shining gay The shadow still of what hath been Which fashion yearly fades away And singers too a merry throng At early morn wi simple skill Yet imitate the angels song And chant their christmass ditty still And mid the storm that dies and swells By fits-in humings softly steals The music of the village bells Ringing round their merry peals And when its past a merry crew Bedeckt in masks and ribbons gay The 'Morrice danse' their sports renew And act their winter evening play The clown-turnd-kings for penny praise Storm wi the actors strut and swell And harlequin a laugh to raise Wears his hump back and tinkling bell And oft for pence and spicy ale Wi winter nosgays pind before The wassail singer tells her tale And drawls her christmass carrols oer The prentice boy wi ruddy face And ryhme bepowderd dancing locks From door to door wi happy pace Runs round to claim his 'christmass box' The block behind the fire is put To sanction customs old desires And many a faggots bands are cut For the old farmers christmass fires Where loud tongd gladness joins the throng And winter meets the warmth of may Feeling by times the heat too strong And rubs his shins and draws away While snows the window panes bedim The fire curls up a sunny charm Where creaming oer the pitchers rim The flowering ale is set to warm Mirth full of joy as summer bees Sits there its pleasures to impart While childern tween their parents knees Sing scraps of carrols oer by heart And some to view the winter weathers Climb up the window seat wi glee Likening the snow to falling feathers In fancys infant extacy Laughing wi superstitious love Oer visions wild that youth supplyes Of people pulling geese above And keeping christmass in the skyes As tho the homstead trees were drest In lieu of snow wi dancing leaves As. tho the sundryd martins nest Instead of ides hung the eaves The childern hail the happy day As if the snow was april grass And pleasd as neath the warmth of may Sport oer the water froze to glass Thou day of happy sound and mirth That long wi childish memory stays How blest around the cottage hearth I met thee in my boyish days Harping wi raptures dreaming joys On presents that thy coming found The welcome sight of little toys The christmass gifts of comers round 'The wooden horse wi arching head Drawn upon wheels around the room The gilded coach of ginger bread And many colord sugar plumb Gilt coverd books for pictures sought Or storys childhood loves to tell Wi many a urgent promise bought To get tomorrows lesson well And many a thing a minutes sport Left broken on the sanded floor When we woud leave our play and court Our parents promises for more Tho manhood bids such raptures dye And throws such toys away as vain Yet memory loves to turn her eye And talk such pleasures oer again Around the glowing hearth at night The harmless laugh and winter tale Goes round-while parting friends delight To toast each other oer their ale The cotter oft wi quiet zeal Will musing oer his bible lean While in the dark the lovers steal To kiss and toy behind the screen The yule cake dotted thick wi plumbs Is on each supper table found And cats look up for falling crumbs Which greedy childern litter round And huswifes sage stuffd seasond chine Long hung in chimney nook to drye And boiling eldern berry wine To drink the christmas eves 'good bye' (by John Clare) 19/12/2016 0 Comments A Christmas Poem II Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th'unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head: 'There is no peace on earth, ' I said 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.' Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.' Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men. (by Henry Longfellow) |
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