Poem From Five Winters Book Party
Last week I had a Zoom party to celebrate Five Winters release into the world - it was such a great evening, and so good to share my excitement with everyone. As part of the proceedings, I asked participants to post a sentence about something they like about winter or Christmas in the chat for me to use to construct a poem. There was some wonderful material to use, and this is the result. I think it's guaranteed to make you feel festive!!
A Christmas Walk
Fresh snow, the sun just rising, a crescent moon still visible.
She precedes me out into the field, my dog, playing, joyous.
We are the first to walk through the field,
The first to leave our footprints in the perfect whiteness,
The air crystal crisp.
My breath fogs the jewelled tiaras of the spider webs,
Standing out against the nakedness of the trees.
Strangers approach – not strangers on Christmas Day.
Good morning, Happy Christmas! Smiles, companionship.
The smell of wood smoke as I approach the village,
Long tree shadows across the fields as the sun strengthens.
In a few months’ time leaves will start to unfurl,
And there will be a promise of spring.
But for now, the snow has cleansed the world, cold and pure.
A rider passes, her horse steaming in the cold air.
In the distance, early sledders speed down the hill.
I imagine them returning home, red-cheeked and smiling,
To twinkling lights, the smell of cakes and cookies,
And the pine-scented tree they decorated with their families.
Their parents eating cheese straws and drinking mulled wine,
Or a champagne cocktail or two before they start to cook.
Warm hugs and memories of past winters,
Three generations together, wearing Christmas jumpers, knitted with love.
The dog and I view their contentment as we make for home.
Time to sit by the fire to re-read my favourite Christmas book,
Before rising to stare out through steamed up windows for my son.
The dog’s ears are pricked – she knows before I do.
Before his headlights shine along the track.
It is his birthday – a time for deep happiness.
For love, actually.
A Christmas Walk
Fresh snow, the sun just rising, a crescent moon still visible.
She precedes me out into the field, my dog, playing, joyous.
We are the first to walk through the field,
The first to leave our footprints in the perfect whiteness,
The air crystal crisp.
My breath fogs the jewelled tiaras of the spider webs,
Standing out against the nakedness of the trees.
Strangers approach – not strangers on Christmas Day.
Good morning, Happy Christmas! Smiles, companionship.
The smell of wood smoke as I approach the village,
Long tree shadows across the fields as the sun strengthens.
In a few months’ time leaves will start to unfurl,
And there will be a promise of spring.
But for now, the snow has cleansed the world, cold and pure.
A rider passes, her horse steaming in the cold air.
In the distance, early sledders speed down the hill.
I imagine them returning home, red-cheeked and smiling,
To twinkling lights, the smell of cakes and cookies,
And the pine-scented tree they decorated with their families.
Their parents eating cheese straws and drinking mulled wine,
Or a champagne cocktail or two before they start to cook.
Warm hugs and memories of past winters,
Three generations together, wearing Christmas jumpers, knitted with love.
The dog and I view their contentment as we make for home.
Time to sit by the fire to re-read my favourite Christmas book,
Before rising to stare out through steamed up windows for my son.
The dog’s ears are pricked – she knows before I do.
Before his headlights shine along the track.
It is his birthday – a time for deep happiness.
For love, actually.
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