This is for FOWC: Discover and day 13 of the Christmas challenge, which is about family. Shared with the Writers’ Pantry. For obvious reasons, my family is reconsidering what to do to celebrate Christmas this year, and though I am hoping we can spend some time together in person, it may be necessary to do some kind of Christmas present unboxing over video-chat. I’m also hoping to get to go to Mass and see my church family. Christmas would be very lonely without them.
Christmas
Evergreen Tree
This is a bit late, but it is for FOWC: Preference and day 11 of the Christmas challenge, about the color green.
Into the Holiday Season
I wrote this tanka while watching Jeopardy tonight, because Alex Trebek said, “We are now well into the holiday season.” For those who don’t know, he passed away shortly before Thanksgiving, but because he had recorded several weeks of shows in advance, they are airing those. It was eerie that he said that on the show because he didn’t get to actually get into the holiday season. So, looking at my family’s Christmas tree, which we put up just a few days ago, I wrote this, also for the Christmas Challenge day 8.
Christmas tree watches
Alex Trebek on TV —
Enlighten the room
Ornamental memories,
Mementos hang from branches
The Word Is Born
This is for this prompt about solitude, as well as for day 7 of the Christmas Challenge, which is bright.
Born in relative solitude,
Laid in a manger to be soul’s food,
On this timeless silent night,
Illuminated by the star, bright —
And of course, the world’s Light —
Is born God’s eternal Word,
As an infant’s cry is heard.
Joyous
To me, one of the most joyous activities is reading a wide variety of books! I wrote this haiku (or is it a senryu?) for FOWC: Voracious. All I want for Christmas is books and the time to read them! And to be able to go to Mass, but don’t even get me started on that topic…
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming….
Some governors will have blood on their hands. If they think staying home is safer, they don’t realize that supposed refuges can run red with the blood of the despairing. Unsympathetic people call those who bring this fact to light “covidiots,” but I think that what’s more “covidiotic” is having a monolithic fixation on one issue. Depression and other issues make people really tired of Blursday following Blursday, wishing that “anthropause” would take it’s claws out of all the broken hearts.
Your regularly scheduled poem has been interrupted by this thing, because my brain has short-circuited.
Also, I know that the word “red” is supposed to be for a Christmas writing challenge, and this is the opposite of Christmassy. This was also inspired by a prompt at Poets and Storytellers United.
mistletoe is green,
Santa’s hat is red,
there are other things than Covid
which can make us dead
There’s your poem. 🙂
Costanza: Preparation
This is a Costanza poem for the Saturday Mix, also overlapping with MLMM’s Tale Weaver: Confusion. I wrote this tonight in honor of the first Sunday of Advent, the season before Christmas Day. My emotions have been all over the place, but I love Advent, so that is what inspired this poem.
On January 2nd
early departure
Christmas decor packed away
right after New Year
wise men looking for the star
see its light through bubble wrap
This is for Frank J. Tassone’s haikai challenge, and I am also linking it with JusJoJan day 18.
Rex Gentium
The King of all the people’s has come near,
Rex Gentium — this is the name we laud,
The name belonging only to our God,
Who tells us that we never need to fear
When His great scepter our life wholly guides.
To Him belong all power and control,
Authority and means to make us whole
And love, even when consolation hides.
The One come near can live inside of all
Who will to take upon themselves His yoke:
His yoke is easy and His burden light.
He comes to everyone who deigns to call,
To stoke the flame of love, and in grace soak:
Regard the precious infant born this night.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Chai Tea Coloring
This is for Linda G. Hill’s coloring club for December
I colored this today and accidentally got a smudge on the paper, but I do like how it turned out. It was also nice to enjoy chai tea while coloring (it was not just for the photo!). I hope your “cup runneth over” with blessings and companionship this season. Merry Christmas!
