Yes, I know I’m a little late with posting this one, but it all got a bit busy in the run up to Christmas. The prompt for this poem was “Once upon a December…” Here is what I wrote
Once Upon a December night The sky was dark but the stars were bright I took your hand and gave a smile we lost the whole world for a while Once Upon a December night A frosty cold December night
Once Upon a December Eve As snowflakes settled on my sleeve we danced beneath the sky, carefree So cold but happy as could be Once upon a December Eve A happy cold December Eve
Once Upon a December morn As choir’s sung of messiah born You took my hand and asked of me myself, while down on bended knee Once upon a December morn A happy bright December morn
Now upon this December day While children wait to see the sleigh You smile at them and pull me near to breathe devotion in my ear now upon this December day This joyful bright December day
One of the poetry prompts in the writers advent calender was to write an Elfchen. Not something I had heard of before, an elfchen (alternatively known as an elevenie), is a poem that consists of only eleven words. The form goes
One word Two words Three words Four words One word
Here is my first attempt at writing in this form
Gifts Ribbon decked Enfolded in colour From me to you Love
Last year I tried doing a poem a day during advent – I had found a poetry prompt advent calender online. Bur I only managed about 6 before I got too busy with all of the other pre Christmas tasks. This year I didn’t even start until a week in, but hopefully I can fit in more than last year in the next 16 days.
The first prompt was “Once upon a December” so this is what I wrote
Once upon a December night
When sky was dark but stars were bright
I took your hand and gave a smile,
We lost the whole world for a while
That frosty cold December night
Once upon a December eve
As snowflakes settled on my sleeve
We danced beneath the sky, care free.
So cold but happy as could be
That cheery crisp December eve
Once upon a December morning
As carols told of Christ child born
You took my hand and asked of me
myself, while down on bended knee.
Oh such happy December morn
Once upon a December day
While children wait to see the sleigh
You smile at them then pull me near
To breath devotion in my ear
This joyful bright December day
Day four of the poetry prompt advent calendar and the prompt was “unseen presence”.
You are here Beside me always. I know you are with me And though I may not see you When I stop and breathe I feel your presence. When I lie quiet in the darkness Your unseen arms enfold me And I hear your whisper in my ear.
You are the peace I know in the midst of the chaos. You are the beauty I find when all around is spoiled. You are the hope I find when the darkness descends. And when I feel ugly you remind me of my true beauty.
How sad that too often my eyes are blind to what you show How sad that my ears sometimes close to your words of comfort How sad that the petty distractions of the world oft obscure your truth And when worried I often forget that your hands hold me
But still, I know that your patient love is mine forever Your presence with me, though unseen, is eternal truth
So I found a poetry prompt advent calendar. Day 1’s prompt was simply ‘A candle’
The room is still Save for the flickering light of the candle on the mantel It’s orange cast dancing on the wall behind. The persistent motion is mesmerising as she watches through the window The light shed by the candle does not spread far, Showing her barely more than the silhouette of the familiar old chair His chair In its rightful position by the hearth. But the hearth is cold and empty. Summoning her courage, she takes the few small steps to the door. She pauses, sighs, hand on the handle before, Resigned, she pushes it open. The sudden chill that floods the room Is all-encompassing And the feeble flame is no match for it. As the door shuts behind her All is Darkness
Although I have been writing for decades, it is only more recently that I have had the courage to share my writing. It started with a writing group my husband got me to join. It was, thankfully, a small group but still when it came to reading what I had written it was painful. My heart would thump, my mouth would dry and I struggled to concentrate listening to the work of other group members, as I swung between desperately wanting my turn to be over so I could listen and enjoy the others, and hoping we would run out of time before I had to read mine. The fact that they actually seemed to like what I wrote was unexpected, and such a relief, but I didn’t quite believe it. Since the group ended, I haven’t read anything to anyone, so when I was asked if I would write and perform a poem for a Christmas concert this year I was as surprised as anyone when the “yes” came out of my mouth. I was still really nervous, but my self confidence has grown hugely and I knew that I could do this.
The first hurdle I had to overcome was actually writing the poem. It’s strange how poetry can come so naturally at times, yet now I just didn’t know where to start. I had plenty of notice, but that really just meant more discarded first lines and more time spent fretting. Eventually I sat down a week before the concert and looking back at all the ideas and abandoned phrases from previous attempts to write, I realised I had essentially written a poem in pieces. All I needed to do was put them together in the right places and I had something that summed up what I wanted to say. However, it was now time to panic about actually performing it.
I love reading to my children, although now they are older it is not something I get to do so much anymore. I put on voices, and try to ‘express’ what I am reading in a way that is fun for me as well as enjoyable/informative for them. But dramatic reading to my kids is a far cry from a poetry reading in front of a group of mostly strangers. I tried many times, when alone, to recite it with the right expressive emphasis but it just sounded insincere (to me anyway).And then I made the mistake of recording myself on my phone, my voice sounds so strange outside of my head that it really dented my confidence.
I did it though.
I stood up with a microphone in my unsteady hand and looked around at the faces looking at me while I said the words I had written. I didn’t rush, I didn’t stumble over my words, and when I finished I heard applause! I walked off stage elated. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not about to rush off into the world of performance poetry, but I achieved something that Saturday evening. I did something that a previous me could never have done, and at the same time proved to myself that I am not a small insignificant voice that no-one wants to hear.
Immanuel
One night. A night like any other A night like none before, like none ever again
The night came like each before; The sun descended at the end of the day Making room for the moon and the stars Little did the sun know it would rise to shine on a world forever changed
A star A star unlike any other A star like none before, like none ever again
The star appeared so brightly shining It traversed the sky, piercing the night, A herald of hope that surely proclaims Love has come, the Divine love has been born for all
A Baby Born in humility Born in a place obscure and un-renowned
His a birth like many others, a mothers labouring Long and painful, but oh so worthwhile when a tiny cry is heard. Yet here was straw and dirt and animals in a borrowed room Little did the cattle know, that the baby warmed by their breath was the child Christ.
How well do we hide this story? Deck it out in tinsel and holly Obscure it’s truth with feasting and merriment Smother this grace with excess and greed
We no longer see the radical love that started it all We have turned from the Glory of the God who reigns on high, Yet deigns to stoop and envelop us in his unconditional love.
He is here now, waiting for each of us To clear away the wrapping To free ourselves from festive distractions And once again gaze in awe At the majestic humility of the babe in the hay. Almighty God with us.
Life, as I understand it 