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Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095


0 posted 2000-12-24 04:32 PM



"Philip (Poertree) and I thought we'd write a couple of poems about our
memories and thoughts on Christmas in our respective countries (England and
Australia).  We thought at the outset we'd end up with contrasts, but now
we're not sure what we've ended up with ..  lol"


Christmas then


Christmas is a sweet held note between
the lightning of living and
the thunder of its consequences.

Suet in spaghetti loops
thick rich mince, and
the dining room is a pool of pine resin, candle wax
and the sharp crack and fizz of fresh cut sycamore in flames.
I hear Kings College choir spin perfection from the old 45
but I can never separate Noels and Adoration
from bells and jingles.
All I listen to are the quiet
crackly spaces between.

The garden is thawing back to green.  Smithills Copse,
a ragged black pillar in a distant field
bridging the seamless grey of snow and sky,
shrugs off it's final thread of white lace.
Still in the woods.  Between melting tracks split
red berries and blood spots sink through the slush
vivid in a landscape losing its freezing clarity to water.

It's evening, and scallops of light hang from stencilled angels.
The dado has caught sprigs of falling mistletoe from the cascades on the
cornice,
and through undecided curtains we glimpse someone old shuffling carefully.
But the image is hazed,
between us is the halo from a tree,
shrouded in tinsel, glass and unnatural glare,
ebbing to lifelessness.

------------------------------

Christmas Down Under


Ahhh summer
she brings with her
Jingle Bell buzzing mosquito's
jingling with excitement
and bodies swollen with heat,
turkey roasts and delicious
pavlova's will be the
Christmas meal, their feast
on such a joyous occasion

I particularly love the
Christmas beetles, at night
they clumsily crash into
our windows, our doors
our homes falling onto
their backs doing what looks
like a rap style dance

through the air
down roads and Avenue's
coloured lights light up
homes ,  thonged feet,
sleeveless arms, bare legs stand
merrily around smoking barbecue's
drinking a beer
or two or three or more

white noses, hidden eyes
cackling over life be in it
Norm jokes

quick, surfs up
lets go for a dip, lets kick
sand  in our faces

yes

I love Christmas
Down Under

------------------------------


Merry Christmas to all!



[This message has been edited by Dark Angel (edited 12-24-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Dark Angel - All Rights Reserved
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
1 posted 2000-12-24 04:38 PM


Oh I love it!!!  Thank you so much for these two so different looks at Christmas...both of them such treasures..as are the poets that wrote them.  Hugs and Merry Christmas to you both!!
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
2 posted 2000-12-24 04:46 PM


Dark Angel,
That is wat we call down here a two-fer. Two for the price of one. And they were both wonderful. Have a Merry.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

3 posted 2000-12-25 06:54 PM


Martie, "both of them such treasures..as are the poets that wrote them" ahhh and so are you Martie, I know I speak for Philip too   Thank you Dear, you are so kind with your replies   Merry Christmas!

Hey Seymour, glad you liked what Philip and myself came up with    Thank you and Merry Christmas  


WhtDove
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245
Illinois
4 posted 2000-12-25 10:18 PM


I think I'd like to be kickin up the surf with ya bout now.  

Great job both of you!!  Certainly different from what I know.

Many smiles here  

<*\\\><

I know not what the future holds,
but I know Who holds the future.

I don't question YOUR existance - GOD


HopeS
Member Elite
since 2000-12-22
Posts 4596
Perth Western Australia
5 posted 2000-12-25 10:35 PM


I could relate to both poems
having spent half my life in England
and the other half in Australia
yes and Christmas Day in Perth this year
was 98 degrees !!!! Wow it was hot
Hope
Ps Hey I don't like those Christmas beetles
I've never got used to those LOL

Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
6 posted 2000-12-26 11:09 AM


Christmas Down Under sounds superb... as does Christmas Then... .. now... or anytime..
Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

7 posted 2000-12-29 08:16 AM


Philip - I have an order for you: WRITE MORE...capice?

Maree - you can have an order too...KEEP writing...

lol

more in email

K

Sven
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA
8 posted 2000-12-29 09:35 PM


I love this. . . it's wonderful. . .

and one more thing. . . what K said!!

------------------------------------------------------

That which gives light must endure burning
--Victor Frankl


Poertree
Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359
UK
9 posted 2000-12-30 09:21 AM


i survived the worst of relatives and british snow and returneth cold and fatter but still what passes for alive  

thanks to all who replied - and no i won't be posting a poem about New Year in Scotland - it wouldn't get past the moderators in this forum ...lol...

philip

PS Maree please get "cornice" on the right line would ya - thank you so much dear ...heh heh  

Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

10 posted 2000-12-30 05:35 PM


Maybe cornice didn't fit P?
It might not be M's fault...

unless it was meant for the line below...

K

Isis
Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296
Sunny Queensland
11 posted 2000-12-30 06:49 PM


Couldn't have depicted an Aussie Chrissy any better hon.. well done  
Isis

*The heart of education is the education of the heart...*
~Isis~~Sovereign of the Spirit.


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