Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Poem - TFE takes over my life once again...


TFE's poetry bus is back for one week only... catch it while it's hot.


Here's a poem based on my harrowing real life experience as a Santa's little helper, which explains the chill in my bones today, and the fact that I couldn't blog last night... (ok I was out watching Avatar, but look I managed to stay un-brain-dead enough after that harrowing experience to get back to ye with not one but two ginormously high quality blog posts today)

On the Green

Bitter cold brittle hours
cocoa rumours abound.
Qualified by my red coat
I am a shivering elf -

Seventy seven selection boxes
earned with songs, hugs, poems,
the young surround - asleep, incredulous, terror struck,
they mingle, dance in transient twinkle-tent

Man with cushion-stuffed red felt pants
and laughter in his tired voice,
escapes with seventy seven promises of rudolf carrots
and one red crayon flower

21 comments:

Emerging Writer said...

sweet. Qualified by my red coat is good and the last line's a humdinger.

Titus said...

I loved the first two lines, and like EW the last one's a stunner too.

Any photos?

Karen said...

Great images to put us right there with you! I have to agree on the last line.

Rachel Fox said...

Just the mention of selection boxes is enough for me.
x

Niamh B said...

Thanks all, the only pic is of the red crayon flower included in the post, which I managed to hold onto after all the excitement...

Totalfeckineejit said...

Lovely poem fair brought a misty tear to my eye.Actually I think that might be conjunctivitus.Cool poem though and I loved the alliterative 'transient twinkle tent' if that isn't Christmas then I'm darned if I know what is!
And yeh , nice last line too.

Domestic Oub said...

Great poem Niamh - loved the 'I am a shivering elf' line!

I was with you through the whole experience :)

Domestic Oub said...

btw, is Avatar not good?

ps word ver is combuste - take away the e, its fun :)

Niamh B said...

Thanks TFE & Oubliette.
Avatar is well worth a look, but in a weird way it's crap - there's so much potential in it, so many lovely magical ideas ruined by crap dialogue and ram it down your neck moral of the story all over the place. Reminded me of the neverending story - in that some of the effects were rubbish too - animals had too smooth bodies, the human acting was so wooden in parts I thought it was computer generated, making me really not care about the character. But it will be one that will be loved... a stupid classic that could have been really brilliant, and that - I suspect - might even grow on
ME eventually... so yeah - go see it...

Liz said...

Nice angle on things - and yes! selection boxes, oh boy! does that bring back memories...enjoyed! cheers, Niamh

Mad Aunt Bernard said...

I agree! The first two lines are wonderful and the last is a cracker (pardon the pun)!!

Dominic Rivron said...

Good one. Fancy meeting the man himself! :)

Niamh B said...

Thanks Liz and Mad Aunt Bernard - it's the one time of year you can safely get away with any and all bad puns Aunt B!
Thanks Dominic. Yes - he assures me I'm on the nice list too! It was very exciting.

Argent said...

I pretty much have to echo what the others have said. A compact little gem!

Kat Mortensen said...

Wonderful! I loved the "cocoa rumours abound" line, but then I'm a chocoholic.
I once worked as a Christmas elf at a Santa-photo booth. This poem really struck a chord.

Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Kat

Niamh B said...

Thnks a mill Argent, and Poetikat - many happy returns!

NanU said...

Love that red crayon flower! I can see it decades hence being discovered crumpled in a pocket, worn from being fingered over the years, a treasured talisman.

Niamh B said...

Thanks NanU - we had one drawing giver, and one poetry reciter among the 77 kids... not bad going I guess.

Batteson.Ind said...

This little beauty nearly made me cry! You can't beat a good sentimental thing for Christmas.. it's the only time of year I don't sink to calling everyone a w***er!
Lovely stuff; The line about "seventy seven promises of rudolf carrots and one red crayon flower"... beutifully perfect !
Happy chrissmass! :-D

Niamh B said...

Many happy returns watercats - really enjoyed your song this evening, warmth and yuletide glow a-go-go!!

annewalker said...

What a very beautiful poem! I am totally awed with every line of this poem. Thanks for sharing.

Reading poems is one of my favorite hobby. In fact, I even collected some of the best short Christmas poems so that I can just visit it and read when I have time. Thanks!

Happy holidays!