#festive
During a time of year where,
The temperature goes down,
The sun goes down,
Earlier than expected.
How do we pick ourselves up?
Christmas.
The warm and twinkling lights.
The red, white, green, and gold.
The carols we sing.
The wish for snow, that never comes.
The jingle bells ring out only for Christmastime.
Oh, how I look forward to putting my tree up,
Sipping on mulled wine,
Wrapping up warm,
Reflecting on the year as it winds down.
Something in me loves this time.
It’s a time for coming together,
Sometimes the only time.
Sharing stories of christmases long ago,
(Re)watching timeless movies worth gathering around for.
A banquet of food to fill your soul with warmth.
The time of year, we gift each other.
Love and be merry with one another.
Such a beautiful time.
How grateful am I to be able to enjoy this year after year.
How we all embrace the festive period.
This is how it is meant to be.
We wish each other a Merry Christmas.
We laugh, we spend together, we share gifts,
Then before you know it we’re counting down
And a Happy New Year begins.
We must cherish this time,
More than we realise.
For the time that follows,
That perpetual, never-ending dusk,
The cold and dark time that follows…
I always try to block it out.
We must stay merry.
Be jolly, this Christmas.
May the holiday warmth and glow,
Grow within you.
Let it stay with you.
And guide you through that darkness.
It will be spring before you know….
Dec 1, 2025
Dec 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM UTC
The stockings were hung,
but they fell off the wall,
The tree was so crooked,
it threatened to fall.
The cookies for Santa
got burnt to a crisp,
and Grandpa was snoring
with quite a loud lisp.
The cat ate the tinsel
and their whiskers did glow,
while reindeer-shaped lights
blinked sporadic and slow.
The wrapping paper ran out
halfway through,
so presents got covered
in the old Daily News.
But Christmas still came
with its usual cheer,
despite all the chaos
and Dad's missing beard.
For love and good spirits
cannot be undone,
by festive mishaps
and misguided fun.
©️Lizzie Bevis
Dec 22, 2024
Dec 22, 2024 at 7:35 AM UTC
One more day is left to go,
Until you hear the oohs and ohs,
The Christmas lights illuminate the town,
There should be smiles instead of frowns,
A robins perched upon a branch,
In through the window,
It takes a glance,
It sees the room is dazzling and festive,
And everyone wakes up to go down for breakfast.
The sleepy heads come down the hall,
And there's the tree still standing tall,
Presents are ripped open,
Paper flung in the air,
Then going to church to say their prayers.
They come back home to have their dinner,
Crackers pulled, behold a winner!
The paper crowns placed on their heads,
They talk and laugh and eat, then fed.
Carolers calling to the door,
Each page is turned they sing more and more,
Sit down again and have dessert,
The 25th is Jesus's birth.
Movies watched and stories shared,
Pictures taken and memories that can't be tared,
Snow falls down and the fire is bright,
It gets quite cold and turns to night,
People kiss under the mistletoe,
Kids running to rooms to and fro.
This occasion is done by a collective,
Coming from a Robin's perspective.
Dec 2, 2024
Dec 2, 2024 at 4:36 PM UTC
Only those who are the bravest
Will take on the task for all
To seek out that which many try to avoid
Asleep through the festivities and fun
Gifts will await their turn
Whilst a knightly soul becomes truly sound
Dec 26, 2022
Dec 26, 2022 at 2:49 PM UTC
Merry Christmas and all that
Do put on your tinsel hat
Humour does not go amiss
To one and all blow a kiss.
Rules are for some - not for all
Well! this is quite a close call
Remember to doff your hat
Aye, the Queen can greet the cat.
Twinkling stars and fairytale
Flying carpets never fail
From all our eyes drop the scales
Re-mix and spare the details.
Living in a "Wonderland":
My eyes can feel grit and sand
Like floating in outerspace
With a mask across my face.
Earth has had a thorough shake
The world is due a re-make
We'll see what lands on the top
For success, failure or flop.
Dec 26, 2021
Dec 26, 2021 at 8:11 AM UTC
Silence, the ship's sails have halted
The sea whales have ceased
Singing their lamentations, as the beach shore sanguines a murky horizon
Red fades to black, as shimmers of wavering hope speckle a once pure....Once, pure hellscape carved by tainted talons
Blood drips from the heavens, tears mix into a toxic vile
The mirror's ink lighter upon my trace,as the siren's wails sound increasingly feint, feinter
Now whispers reverberating in the Guilded chambers of my rotting shame and guilt
Dec 16, 2021
Dec 16, 2021 at 6:03 PM UTC
‘Oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree’
Your lights shine too bright
My eyes
Are sensitive
And so are my ears
Loud voices and bustling shoppers
Make me anxious
Whatever happened to whoville?
I don’t need presents or money
I’m happy with those I love around me
Sometimes I wonder if they feel the same
Or has the holiday season
Driven them insane?
Dec 14, 2021
Dec 14, 2021 at 12:22 AM UTC
At first it made me happy
But now it makes me feel ashamed
My Christmas tree in February
Feb 7, 2021
Feb 7, 2021 at 9:38 AM UTC
#*Blue and green
Side by side
glittered in the dark
Achromatic leaves on the trees
Golden yellows
Glowed in the back
Festive lights glow through the night
Colours never fail
In their journey of spreading light*#
Dec 28, 2020
Dec 28, 2020 at 1:40 PM UTC
Thank Goodness Santa was exempted
From Covid Travel Rules,
So he could go and deliver
All those presents and shimmering jewels.
My great nephew and niece all smiles:
Look at their happy faces.
Santa did all those miles
And got to so, so many places.
He even brought me mine
Disguised as mail delivery.
Giving his reindeers time
To rest, for a while,
In their Lapland livery.
Top of the Pops at noon.
It was on so very soon.
Some nice tunes and jingles
Like a box full of Pringles.
Not quite Rock and Roll,
But still a hint of Soul.
Meaningful lyrics
And some atmospherics.
The Queen gave us Hope
With her speech at three.
No time to mope
Here in the land of the Free.
Trust you all enjoyed this festive day some way.
And let us all pray
That things get better
From New Year’s Day.
It’s time to conquer Covid:
About time I hear you shout.
It’s DNA decoded,
Vaccinations all about.
So twenty-twenty-one
Is coming very soon.
When this year is all done,
Let’s fly up to the moon.
Let’s fill the world with Love,
Holding hands again.
Goodbye to twenty-twenty,
Goodbye to all the pain.
Paul Butters
© PB 25\12\2020.
(Last two lines changed at the suggestion of Norman Stevens 27\12)
(Original final two lines were:
“It’s not a matter of whether,
Only a matter of when.” ).
Dec 25, 2020
Dec 25, 2020 at 3:20 PM UTC
I pop open the blister pack and poke the pill through,
dip it in sugar to mimic an advent calendar.
The doors are endless, a childhood dream.
I can’t get used to the lightness of despair.
I’ve mastered depression- damp, bell-heavy,
but despair?
It’s almost ethereal. Fairy lights in the breeze,
a brief twinkle
the wink of a tealight before it concludes.
The children hand me treasures they’ve found in the mud
Forest School, or playing outside as it used to be called,
before everything needed branding.
I smile, another leaf for my hair
more stones for my pocket. Anchors in open water.
‘Are you okay, Miss?’
I sink into mauve bubbles, not trying to drown
only grounding my weight again.
Lilac shimmers the water and I trickle it over me,
smearing life across sallow skin.
My Rudolph earrings hang florid
tinsel etches my scalp. It’s the Nativity today
and my beaming face will echo that of the angels.
Happy.
Dec 16, 2020
Dec 16, 2020 at 8:11 AM UTC
*
*Fair and bright beauty
Light feet revel with swift song
Joy blooms in her soul*
*
Aug 20, 2020
Aug 20, 2020 at 9:25 AM UTC
Talk to me, talk to me of Old St. Nick
Talk to me of Sinterclaus
Of Mikulas, Pere Noel, or Babbo Natale
Talk to me of candles, christingle and a silent night
Talk to me of crackers, carols and calamities
Talk to me of snow, sleighs, and stars
Talk to me of Christmas cards, wrapping paper
Talk to me of gold, old spice and mice
Talk to me of icing, icicles
igloos, ivy
Holly
Oh sweet Hollie
Tots of Drambuie
Marmalade and toast
Talk to me of Philip Scholfield
Carols From Kings
Mary Poppins
Scrooge
Festive films
Radio Times
And things that are too pretty
Lights, nights
Hark, Dark
barking dogs
tinsel
Tinsel Town
Wolves at the door
Salvation Army playing once more
Talk to me
Talk to me
Cream Crackers, cheese
Frosty mornings, old knees
Talk to me of snow covered alpine forests
Gateaux
Cherries
walnuts and berries
Festive fun,
A seasonal run
Of All Gold telly
With a full belly
Farts, sprouts
Turkey that tastes just like chicken
Oh talk to me of
Terry Wogan
Rosh Jogan
Grogan Josh
Last minute deals
Black Friday
White Friday
And all the Cyber Mondays
Talk to me of
Happy Mondays
Dancing Bez
In a Festive Fez
Talk to me
Talk to me
Of Festive time
Late nights
Early mornings
Beer
Cheer
All in entertainment
Oh talk, TALK to me
Of hangovers,
sleep overs
gloves
mittens
and cute kittens
Oh talk to me of
fake Chanel
Faux Fur and underwear
Celvin Klein
Talk to me , Talk to me of
Jonah Lewie
Bony M
The Pogues
and all those rogues
Fairy tale of New York
Stop the Cavalry
Mary's Boy Child
And the
Spaceman who came riding by
Oh talk, Talk , Talk to me
of places, and spaces We all know
Christmas markets
Tesco, Aldi and John Lewis Adverts showing
Christmas is coming
Christmas is coming
Christmas is coming
Chris
Oh talk to me
Oh talk to me of old St. Nick
Talk to me
Talk to me
Eggnog
Talk to me
Talk to me
Bah humbug
Talk to me
Talk to me
Happy Christmas
Dec 19, 2019
Dec 19, 2019 at 4:54 PM UTC
*
***neither party nights
nor the shining lights
neither music loud
nor happening crowd
neither flaunting clothes
nor updated wardrobes
neither make-up showy
nor glittery jewellery...
love my comfort zone
in my way own
an evening with moon afar
a night under twinkly stars
give me a peaceful corner
and a pen with paper
in a candle dim
the thoughts sing
the words dance
a poetic chance
a divine romance
the onset of a trance...***
*
Sep 3, 2019
Sep 3, 2019 at 12:06 PM UTC
She does nails
she's got indomitable *** appeal
a lunging sort of a walk
a swagger sort of a talk
when she's on the up and up
but a straight lace face otherwise
hurling enigmatic hellos
sweeping up confetti good mornings
blowing merry christmases
swaying in then out
long-time-no-see like
it's that end of the year ear to ear
clearly
Dec 31, 2018
Dec 31, 2018 at 6:24 AM UTC
Tree and lights,
Shop window sights,
Frost and chill,
The presents bill!
Wrapping up gifts,
blizzard in drifts,
snow and gritters,
chintz and glitter.
Anticipation,
pupil dilation,
paper in shreds,
curiosity fed.
Turkey and trimmings,
mulled drinks brimming,
family and friends,
latest toy trends.
Hat and scarf,
children’s laugh,
snowman’s nose,
frozen toes.
Christmas Telly,
big full belly,
children tired,
the roaring log fire.
Offspring to bed,
all cosy and fed,
deepest sleep,
Not a sound, not a peep.
Snowflake falling,
Relatives calling,
Music and dance,
Lost in a trance.
The Festive season,
Always good reason,
To meet up and blether,
Whatever the weather
Aduain
Nov 26, 2018
Nov 26, 2018 at 7:26 AM UTC
Thanksgiving
Happiness
Abundance
Nostalgia
Kindness
Yearly
Opportunity
Unity
Nov 22, 2018
Nov 22, 2018 at 3:45 PM UTC
the night is bright
the moon is out
the devils are chained
the fast begins
~
May 16, 2018
May 16, 2018 at 8:54 PM UTC
Oh Christmas comes but once a year
Waistlines swell with good food and beer
Mince pies, chocolates, nibbles and nuts
Watch vintage TV, with no 'ifs' and no 'buts'
Wrapping paper deal, 2 rolls for a pound
Sneaky wrapping later, shhh, don't make a sound
Christmas tree needed you know what to do
Get a last minute deal down at Rhyl B & Q
Got the presents sorted, a job that so hard
That sinking feeling from a last minute card
A phone call and text is never too much
A welcome long chat just to keep in touch
Christmas day approaching are all the jobs done?
Eat drink and be merry is the way it should run
But often a snooze can be the best part
That can end with a grunt, a snore or a ****
Turkey all gone but there are sandwiches still
Three helpings of trifle can make you quite ill
Then cheese and fine biscuits with coffee and cake
Might slow you right down on the After Eights
So off to the sofa where you sit if you dare
Waistbands all loosened on the reclining chair
A tea or a beer shows who's still in the race
While a quick 40 winks puts a smile on your face
Well there it was done and soon off to bed
You sleep like a log having been so well fed
In the night you are gasping you must have a drink
You make it to the bathroom and drink from the sink
The next day is hellish, there are wrappers gallore
With crisps, cheese and crackers ground into the floor
Red wine in glasses fermenting and mulled
You turn and retreat with your senses quite dulled
So no breakfast needed just a whole lot of quiet
After indulging on what was a plain liquid diet
A quick clean around is a job for us males
As your partner heads out for the Boxing day sales!
Dec 22, 2017
Dec 22, 2017 at 7:07 PM UTC
The world
sparkles
like quartz,
a layer
of snowy white
reflecting
the
winter sunlight.
Festivity permeates the
air,
and all
of creation limns
Christmas.
Dec 23, 2017
Dec 23, 2017 at 12:26 AM UTC