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Open Poetry #11
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Christmas Then / Christmas Down Under
| Open Poetry #11 |
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Christmas Then / Christmas Down Under |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095
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"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).] |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
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!! |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
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. |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
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 |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
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 |
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HopeS Member Elite
since 2000-12-22
Posts 4596Perth Western Australia |
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 |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Christmas Down Under sounds superb... as does Christmas Then... .. now... or anytime.. |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Philip - I have an order for you: WRITE MORE...capice? Maree - you can have an order too...KEEP writing... lol more in email K |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I love this. . . it's wonderful. . . and one more thing. . . what K said!! ------------------------------------------------------ That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
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Poertree Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359UK |
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  |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Maybe cornice didn't fit P? It might not be M's fault... unless it was meant for the line below... K |
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Isis Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296Sunny Queensland |
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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