Aurora blushes and frost lays shimmering
and rides the whirling sun-drenched world
And Christmas pushes against my soul.
The ebb and flow of the Ave Maria
drifts through my brain
warming its crystal cold
And Christmas melting, drips into me.
The wall of death has crumbled
and freedom borne across the seas
but chunks of pain are bought and sold on New York streets
for money and in memoriam.
And Christmas, do I let her in?
I am a snow-clad bank sleeping under the stars
at peace with white birch gleaming silver
as scented pine keep watch with
shining, joy-filled eyes of children everywhere
And Christmas murmurs in her night’s seclusion.
As little drummer boy plays my heart
all children of the Earth hearing Christmas
as a stranger’s echo gather into my being
and are taken into God.
And where does Christmas go?
Each snowflake falling rides on zephyr winds
Reflects within itself, a Counterpart
Unique and rare and beautiful
And destined for immortality – YOU
You fill my air with Christmas
And near a stretching beach of sand
a little seagull body surfs
she rides on waves that wed with rocks
then push her out to sea again
and riding waves, she speaks to me
And I Let Christmas In.
Ah, thank you so much for that hyperlink and that “gift” It gave me a moment of pure ecstacy.
It truly is a beautiful world, isn’t it. This is why I am so astounded by and weird when it comes to nature and the elements – the universe as a whole. Can never get enough of it.
I think the song was either Liebestraume or Claire de Lune. Didn’t want to click on Answers.com
I love piano music and that song is so hauntingly beautiful and sad and in such perfect harmony with that video – just as nature is in perfect harmony with the universe though we may not always sense it.
This poem makes me want to let Christmas in. I don’t know how far I can go on the theological theme - I have certain bouts where my faith in Christmas reindeer light my heart red, like a certain old friend’s nose, but then the lights go out from intellectual scolding about the danger of certain myths, inspite of their magnificence and poetic power.
The poem lights the streets of New York red and white for me. Thank you for that. And thank you for writing such a structurally strong poem that never once used a tired cliche about Christmas – no Santa, green or red. Brilliant! But of course, Christmas is all over our imaginations already, so how can the lights and trees not already be there, having grown up in a Christian culture? Very well written.
However, this breaks the flow for me a little: “wed with rocks”. Beautiful imagery, and I see what you’re going for, but the alliteration doesn’t really solve the pesky ‘with’ that cries to be chiseled out. Have you considered “she rides with waves which wedlock rocks?” I kind of like the internal rhyme and simplification, so long as it does not endanger the meaning to be conveyed.
Thank you, Underground Man, for enjoying my poem. No, there are no reindeer nor Santas meant to be in it.
This poem derived from a journey of the spirit that I was taking, from a more or less dark place.
Little by little, the journey became lighter, then darker (the Berlin Wall [but chunks of pain…] – then lighter.
Until at last, I went to the Atlantic Highlands to be near the ocean and watched as a little seagull rode on waves that wed with rocks and that little seagull did speak to me and in that moment, I did let Christmas in.
“she rides on waves that wed with rocks”. I reread this and tried to feel it from your point of view but it still flows for me.
The word “wedlock” is a noun and wouldn’t really flow. The phrase “wed with rocks” (“wed” here is an action verb – “to become united or blend” in this case). I may actually change the word “wed” though.
I really appreciate your imput and thanks again for enjoying my poem.
You know, I rarely disagree with TUM who seems to have an innate sense about these things, but the orginal wording (“she rides on waves that wed with rocks”) flows nicely for me. “she rides with waves which wedlock rocks” on the other hand sounds a little too tongue-twistery, a little too Dr. Seuss or something. Just my thoughts. And while we’re at it, allow me to say ‘wow’ again, A.R. This one is just beautiful. I love the imagery, I love the flow, and I love the theme.
You’ve convinced me, arcturus. And when Rainey disagrees with me I generally back down, heh. And no I didn’t see the pun until you mentioned it. lol . . . well done. I’m well aware that I was nitpicking, too. Also, thanks for sharing the way the poem originated – very interesting.
Your welcome, Underground Man. And “awareness” is a great thing, too…
It would seem that you like Dostoevsky. He is one of my favorite writers. And I read those 3, The Brothers Karamazov being one of my all time favorites.
I love books that make me see the dark seedy side of life and humanity and the terribly inhumane ways we treat one another.(There must be something wrong with me) I love books that make me think, that make me sad, bring me down to the deep accesses where I “live” and then can bring me back up again. Books about love, sacrifice, degradation and then redemption and resurrection. I also loved the Beauty and the Beast animated film the best. (animated, that is) (hee hee).
I also loved The Count of Monte Cristo, one of my very favorite books, too. That book had a bit of everything in it. There were a few versions of it made into movies but would be like comparing a lollipop to a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – no comparison. One’s imagination and the depths of one’s emotional and spiritual feelings (when reading these books) always seem to be a galaxy away from how the movie is portrayed.
There’s def nothing wrong with you. Just to let you know, I completely agree that every film version of The Counte of Monte Cristo makes me want to puke. And thank you for posting. Hopefully you’ll continue to do so in the future - I’m looking foward to it. The other day walking down the street with the icy sidewalk and the chilling wind blowing from the harbor, all of the white christmas lights reminded me of your poem. It’s in my heart. It kept asking me to let christmas in (I’m stubborn and so I kept saying, “No”) but the fight is within now. Rightly or wrongly, I interpret christmas a bit less literaly and simply see it as a sign of opening one’s heart. I guess like Christ. Anyway, just wanted to let you know the effect strange words in pleasent orders produce in strange undergradutes.
ah, you have “warmed the cockles of my heart” TUM with your words…Thank you.
It is certainly freezing out there today isn’t it? If I walk outside to the front and look East I can see the New York skyline.Watch out for that ice. Maybe we can hear the “bells” ringing. The sound of the bells always affect me…
I agree with you about “opening of one’s heart” for Christmas…like Christ. That is the true Christmas spirit. It is about a revelation and an epiphany and as such, can’t be forced.
This year I am simply going to let Christmas happen to me. I have no expectations of anything. Going to church, cooking ham, listening and watching the Yule Log on tv…just letting it happen. Have no plans to enjoy or not to enjoy…I expect nothing but will just let it happen as it happens. And that is life, right…with open hands and heart.