For men are homesick in their homes, And strangers under the sun, And they lay their heads in a foreign land Whenever the day is done.
from G.K. Chesterton’s poem “The House of Christmas”
Christmas
Sijo: Gifts
As usual, here is my sijo for this week’s prompt, “gift,” the night before it is “due.” 🙂
About a dozen gifts for me, wrapped under the Christmas tree:
There is much to appreciate, but among my favorites are
A book to take me far away, and a blanket to keep me warm.
(Another favorite was a very squishy and cute plushie cat, which I have decided to name Squishy.)
More Superfluous Poetry
This time of year, Christmastime, is hard for me because of how dark it gets. In addition, Christmas Day is usually one of the hardest days of the year because, even though I get to go to Mass, the rest of my family does not believe in Christ, so they’re just waiting impatiently for me to get home so that we can open presents.
There was one year when I was so depressed that the presents made the feeling worse. They felt not only superfluous but like a slap in the face. They felt so empty. That night was one of the hardest nights of my entire life. Maybe you understand what I’m saying without me having to say it outright.
Anyway, there was a poem somewhere in there, but I haven’t found it yet. I’ve actually been remarkably well for a week or so; maybe Christmas Day will turn out to be truly happy.
Might as well share my Sijo with you for this week. Our prompt is “Trip.”
Also linking up with Poets and Storytellers United.
I haven’t been traveling much, but if I could I would
Go to a peaceful, relaxing place, maybe a beautiful beach —
As long as I could take this: a calm mind along with me
Music and Dance
Inspired by Charley’s Silent Sunday post today. Two of the ornaments put on my family’s Christmas tree today. I wrote a poem to go with it but am unsure about sharing it now.
Way Back When
Today I’m participating in E. M.’s Sunday Ramble. It’s a nice topic and also fits well with other prompted words. 🙂 This week’s topic is “Childhood Memories.”
What is your first good memory from your childhood? (If this is a trigger question for you, tell me how your day is and what the best thing is about today.)
Probably on my 7th birthday, when I received a Gameboy from my grandma. 😆 It was purple — my favorite color at the time — and she also bought Pokémon Blue version. My twin brother received a green Gameboy and Pokémon Red version from her.
Name 3 things that you loved when you were just a youngster?
Play-Doh! Stickers! I also had a blast playing with makeup, especially with my friends, which is hilarious because I don’t wear any makeup now.
What did you dislike, or even hate, when you were growing up?
Hmm… I hated (and still hate) drinking milk and eating melted cheese. I loved pizza but would take all the cheese off. 🤣 I still don’t like when something has a lot of cheese, but I eat pizza like a normal person now.
If you could go give your younger self one piece of advice, what would you tell them?
I would blast my younger self with the message, “Your personality is different, not wrong.” I’m an INFJ, so I have always been very “sensitive” and intuitive. Growing up, many aspects of my personality were looked down upon in my family. I still have a bunch of baggage, NGL, but now I actually like how I am and don’t really want to be that different (as long as I stay sane haha).
What kind of celebrations did you enjoy when you were little, and do you still like those celebrations now that you are grown?
I liked Christmas and my birthday a lot growing up (what kid doesn’t?). I still like Christmas, but it’s awkward now because I’m a Catholic, and the rest of my family aren’t even Christian in any meaningful way. My brothers are atheists, and I lived with my parents for 20 years before I found out that they considered themselves Christian, so there you go.
As for my birthday, I no longer like it. In fact, I have had a crisis around my birthday for the past few years, and this year is no exception. 😭 It’s coming… *cue Jaws theme music*
- Bonus Question: What commercial did you always wait for to come on television as a child? (If you didn’t like commercials or television, what event did you wait for to come about when you were a kid?“
I don’t remember liking any commercials. However, my brothers and I watched a ton of them because our family didn’t have a TiVo or anything yet. I remember wanting SO MANY toys, thanks to these commercials! I’m glad that my parents did not give in to most of my whining. 🙂
On Epiphany
Today is the traditional Feast of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men arrived to see and worship the baby Jesus. I wrote this Chaucerian stanza on Sunday, when the Epiphany was observed at Mass. The Magi certainly had a sense of anticipation as the journeyed such a long distance to find Jesus, and they were privileged to witness the unfathomable mystery of God becoming a human baby.
Astronomers who’d journeyed from afar
Rejoiced to lay their treasures at His feet,
Trusting there was a Light beyond their star:
True King and God, whom death could not defeat.
In Mary’s arms the Savior they did greet,
Their Lord, their great reward at journey’s end.
Now to all people Christ’s life still extends.
Linked with DVerse OLN.
It Can Be Lonely
“Holidays” is the prompt for MLMM’s Tale Weaver from a couple of days ago. One of the questions that our prompter, Stephanie, asked is, “What do holidays mean to you?” so I wrote this sevenling.
In wider society “the holidays” means
Singing about Santa and snowmen,
Feasting with family and, above all, shopping
Whereas to many, and to me, this is the
Mass of Christ’s birth, the reason we
Sing and feast, joyously gift-giving
And it hurts when family does not see.
The Crib and the Cross
The first thing I think of when I look at the word “Memento” is always, “Memento Mori” — “Remember you will die.” Isn’t that such a fun thing to think about on Christmas? Thinking more about it, however, I realized it’s more appropriate than one might realize: Yes, today is a joyous day when Jesus was born, but He came into the world to save humanity, because everyone was lost without Him. He came into the world, ultimately, to die in a horrible way and then to conquer death by rising again.
As a newborn child, Jesus was placed in a manger — a place where animals ate from. This foreshadowed Him becoming the Bread of Life and giving us Himself.
I’m not a theologian, but that’s just what I’m thinking of, reflecting on Jesus’s birth and the fact that, because He is God, he knew the reason for which He came, even from the first instant. Even His birth foreshadows His death. Thankfully, “Memento Mori” does not have to be too dark of a phrase because death is not the end; death is only a new beginning.
This is a photo that I took this morning before Mass. I was struck by the fact that, among all the Christmas trees and happy decorations, Jesus was on the crucifix. Interesting juxtaposition, yet very appropriate.
Merry Christmas to everyone, even if you’re not Christian! Happy day! 😀
Rex Gentium
On this Christmas Eve day, for Fandango’s Flashback Friday, it took me a while to decide what to share. I looked back at many of my posts from past Decembers, and that brought back a lot of memories. It’s always fun to rediscover your own writing. 😀 I found this sonnet from almost exactly 2 years ago; I posted it on Christmas Day of 2019, copied below.
Even While Waiting
This morning, having filled up my previous poetry notebook, I started a new one. The first poem written in that book is an etheree about my new Advent Wreath. I was sitting right in front of it, so it was easy to be able to think of something. 😁
revivedwriter 