Sunday, December 14, 2008

An Untitled Christmas Poem

I wrote this poem on the fly last year, just before heading to the December meeting of my writers group, and remembered it today, just before heading to this year's December meeting this afternoon.

In Christmas past, I used to wait
wide-eyed in the dark,
willing daylight to arrive--
or the first chimes of midnight--
but always, always, I fell asleep,
and did not hear the whispered consult
or see the huddled adults
conjure piles of wrapped treasure
beneath a tinseled tree.

Then came the years the gifts were few--
maybe only one--
but popcorn, cocoa, carols,
reading in the Book of Luke,
warmed the coldest winter holiday,
reminding us by frail candlelight
that even the brightest star
blooms suspended in chill space,
unseen without the dark.

c. 2007, Keanan Brand

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful--really! There was one Christmas photo I laughed at recently: one of my brother, sisters and myself looking like homeless orphans on Christmas morning, thanks to having gotten up so early(wild hair and mismatched jammies).

Here's an invite to do a quiz that's on my blog--I think you'll win the fictitious prize! Check it out!

Pappy said...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house.... Try that for a lead line and see what you come up with. Great poem. I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Pappy

Eaglewing said...

Excellent poem. Reminds one of the Christmas joy and wonder of being a kid and that the simplest moments are the best.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for playing the Literary Challenge! You scored high--only got one wrong! You rock!! Smart Reader!