Now that our Holiday traditions have been brought to the fore, the next thing we need to do for our celebration is to prepare. Decorations need to be displayed, gifts bought and wrapped, trees trimmed, cookies baked…etc. Prompt #33 asks you to write a “preparation” poem. Get ready to write, and tell us what you do to be prepared.
Ready for Marie:
Dash Away
Untangling light strings, I pray
that they will light sometime today.
And as my dear mother would say,
“But I just put Christmas away.”
I pull silver from the buffet
to polish and put on display,
then dig out the Santa and sleigh.
But I just put Christmas away!
The light strings are twinkling! Hooray!
I sneak from a rich cookie tray;
then tidy the cookie array.
(I’m just putting Christmas away. )
Twelve shopping days left, by the way,
and I have done naught but delay.
If you ask me why, I’ll just say,
“Cause I just put Christmas away.”
Still I cling to the jolly and gay …
for much to my heart’s dismay,
‘In the blink of an eye,’ as they say,
will be time to put Christmas away.
Walt’s Preparations:
READY? NO!
I don’t know why I’m the guy that
always works right to the point
of no return. It’s not that I yearn
for the excitement or challenge,
(although they do entice) it’s nice
to think that my efforts are rewarded,
by the smiles am I afforded.
But, I aim to please, for these are the times
that try my soul. I need to get it right,
right up to the night I take flight.
When I’m getting past the last details,
it never fails that I forget things in urgency,
(but, I always carry “spares”, in case of emergency).
And I hold this reverent spark tucked
into my parka that fuels me, drives me,
and keeps my ever loving heart pulsing.
Each child knows that ember burns within them
every December, for as long as I remember,
they’ve made my job worth doing on that night.
Like I’ve said, I need to get it right,
right up to the night I take flight.
I don’t know why I’m the guy that
always works right up to the point
of no return. It’s just the way I roll.
Ready? No! But, I’m in control.
I am Santa Claus.
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Responses
Both are beautifully delightful!!!
I’m with you all the way, Marie Elena. And as for Santa: keep up the good work.
Here are some of my disastrous preparations: http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/i-saw-sunday-15/
I shall be back with a poem when I’ve recovered from defrosting the freezer!
I just blink my eyes.
Snap my fingers once or twice
and it is over.
By Michael Grove
Get ready to fly,
Christmas will be sad this year
We…..must…..say…..good–bye…..
Dear Dad,
I can hardly believe
this is the second Christmas
without you. Where does
the time go?
It shouldn’t be a surprise
though – every year
the holidays are upon me
before I’m ready.
There is still a lot to do
and only two weeks left!
I have baking to do,
and shopping to finish.
But in the quiet of this
moment — the “right now”
of the holiday rush —
I stop to breathe.
I inhale the sights and
sounds. I exhale the
worry. I remember those
who are gone, and
thank God for those who
are still near. Time is too
precious not to keep
loved ones close at heart.
I miss you.
~Paula
Oh, so Beautiful………and that wonderful cleansing Breath………
Having lost both Mom and Dad at Christmas time, I was deeply touched by this letter to your father, Paula. The key I have come to find to late (but did eventually learn) is indeed to keep the loved one still with us close. Dad (as well as my folks) will be with us in our thoughts and heart. Feel the love that is around you.
Oh, so true!
This is my second Christmas without my Dad, too. You captured the feelings beautifully.
A “Lion King” prompt
How to write this poem
When all my mind will hear is
Scar and hyenas.
🙂
Christmas Preparations Then and Now
I used to get a real tree,
make decorations
and give some to shut-ins
when we caroled.
I used to make presents,
wrap them in paper and bows
and send off packages
and hand written cards
to everyone in the family.
I used to prepare for and attend
parties, pageants and programs.
I used to bake a huge batch
of monster cookies
and pass out plates
of them to friends.
I used to clean the house,
cook a huge turkey dinner
and invite people over.
Now, I have an artificial tree
and use the decorations we have.
Now, I stay home for the most part,
buy gift cards or a few presents
and poke them into Christmas bags.
Now, I type a Christmas letter
and email the ones I can.
Now, I only clean the house enough
to keep the health department away.
Now, for Christmas dinner,
I slow cook a turkey breast
and used canned,
frozen and instant
everything else
just for the immediate family.
Now, I keep it simple
so I can enjoy Christmas
instead of wearing myself out
and wishing it was over.
Oh Connie – this could have been lifted whole from my life – I soooo relate!
I wish you strength in your simplicity…….
I just love this, Connie. Takes me back to the times at the office, where I decorated (alone), brought in about six different kinds of home-baked cookies, and brought tins
to several people. Now the only office is my own, and I bake whatever I want to have.
Marie Elena and Walt (er, Santa, I mean) – your preparations echo many of ours, I’m sure … I love the “but I just put Christmas away” sentiment as I always feel like that … and I am one of those who is putting finishing touches on things right up until the last minute (although not quite so bad now as when my kids were little and still at home) – at least I don’t actually dread the season any more … great poems from both of you, as always.
…..time is so very fleeting…..each moment is precious.
Thanks Sharon and Henrietta.
Marie, one of my favorites of yours. I always say that every year, “Didn’t I just take these down?” and “Didn’t I just put these up?”
Making Ready
Dragging the boxes from the attic,
she finds that all the ornaments
whisper their stories, as she hangs
them one by one—handmade gifts
of popsicle sticks, doilies, walnuts,
and construction paper, cross-stitched
angels, crocheted stars made by hands
she’s missed for years now, yellowing
cradles marked “Baby’s First Christmas”
and one gold wreath, “Our First Christmas
Together.” Shrek hangs beside the Magi,
the Beatles in their Yellow Submarine,
beside a manger with the Christ child,
fishing Santa, golfing Santa, Eiffel tower,
Radio City Music Hall, each one
prompting memories too dear. No,
this won’t be the year she gives them up
for some decorator’s tree, adorned
to match the living room décor.
The star at the top, cut with kindergarten
scissors, decorated with glitter and glue,
will shine like the star of Bethlehem
at least for one more year.
Oh…..the most precious things in life are the ones made with loving hands……!
Oh Nancy – I would love to see this tree with all the diverse decorations – what wonderful homage to the memories in your life.
“whisper their stories” I love that phrase and the image of your tree reminds me of mine. Building memories one ornament at a time.
Preparation While Waiting
Long before advent’s reminder
that waiting involves preparation,
the music is selected, learned,
rehearsed with choir, musicians,
and soloists, through months
of rehearsals, again, again,
that wonderful tricky part
worked countless times with
violin and cello, trumpet
and flute, hand bells and piano,
voices blended and warm,
until the sounds crescendo,
the music moving in her
fluid and painful,
hurting and healing,
the notes blurring with her blinking
back tears, shaking them off,
oh, God, how beautiful is this,
then she works it even more fervently,
her fingers no longer her own,
moving past her own uplifting,
past all blinding emotion
to something transcendent and clean,
becoming an instrument herself
played by unseen hands,
to that breathless wonder that
opens others to take song
into their own humbled hearts,
their homeward hums,
their sudden longings aloft in sanctuary,
lifted up on some holy night,
like the self given in prayer.
Such Christmas miracles are born
of active waiting, of preparation.
Oh, I think you have delicately captured the essence of the Creator flowing through an artististic soul…..beautifully!
…”artistic”
Oh Jane, how lovely. “an instrument played by unseen hands”
You are truly preparing…thank-you for sharing its beauty!
ah – there is nothing, in my view, as soul enriching as those magical moments when music soars the way you’ve explained in your poem – absolutely wonderful … gave me goose-bumps
Thanks to you all for your wonderful comments.
A silly one for the holidays!
http://lolamousedroppings.blogspot.com/2011/12/be-prepared.html
LOL! Adorable—-I have a few family members who live that way!
loved this one lol
Marie and Walt,
I love both of your poems! I can identify with the frantic, last minute rush, the tangled lights that won’t light (actually our entire tree-lights, ornaments, and all!) just tipped over this morning!) No matter how much we try to prepare, it never seems to work!
I attempted a concrete shape with mine, not sure how well it came out. Certainly not as good as any of Walt’s! Anyway, here is the link:dandeliondigest.blogspot.com/2011/12/stillness.
once
you’ve tasted
the adrenaline rush:
waiting until closing time
on christmas eve,
preparation falls
flat.
indeed
Worlds upon worlds
On Christmas Eve we eat pierogi
Some filled with potatoes
Some with cabbage Not eating
Meat is no longer required.
We do it because it is something
Left over from our childhood
We learned about the Christ Child
Before our friends told us of Santa
Who slides down the chimneys with
A sack full of toys..
We always knew it was mother
And father filling the stockings
and all the bright packages under
The tree. Which came from a field
Back of our house. Our father chopped it
We decorated together. We helped our
mother roll the dough for kolachke with
fillings of poppy seeds, or honey and nuts
On holidays when memories rise to the surface
like bread in the oven which later we will eat
What do we take with us? What is forgotten?
What do our children pass on to their own?
The ocean is wide, not as wide as the past.
What do we teach them of the faith of their
Fathers in a world of images, plastics and woe.
My daughters ask me how to make bread. How
Does this delicate .yeast make it rise? This I
Can show them, from flour and water, some sugar
And eggs some mysterious process I don’t quite
Understand. Like the faith that we carry in a world
of unkindness a spark of caring we can show for
each other, all brothers and sisters, most blessed of ties.
“…..a spark of caring we can show for each other…..”, we can. Loved the kitchen scenes you have painted.
Yes, I agree.
Welcome, Marian!
Florida Bound
Juggle jet costs, find flight time allowing
us to wake past dawn. Mom declares, if
we hadn’t moved thousands of miles
away, there’d be no to-do.
Ten hours later, roll
off plane, into car,
night air stifling.
Mom has turned
AC
off.
Love it……(I can still feel the stifling air of Navy Bootcamp in Orlando, FL)…..Portland, OR is a wonderful city…….so eclectic.
I recall the cross-country travel days and not at all fondly – I feel your pain –
Thanks Hen & Sharon. I can hardly wait!
Hi! Here’s my family’s attempt to be prepared:
The letters to Santa
Have long been written,
And sent on their way,
The crazy ordeal of
The last minute shopping
Is looming ahead.
The yearly trial
Of marriage substance –
Arranging the tree–
Is seriously dreaded,
But can’t be escaped.
The house is a mess.
And all of a sudden
My son comes carrying
His sister’s ‘boy-doll’.
He says that it’s Jesus,
And makes a manger,
And brings gifts to him.
And all of our burdens
Are seen as weightless,
And shoulders straighten.
We put on Sinatra,
He’s singing us carols,
Like no one else can.
We light Advent candles,
We pray at mealtime,
We start to prepare.
Thank you for the prompt!
Alexandra (The Happy Amateur)
Beautiful, Alexandra.
Thank you, Henreitta! We’re going to have another crazy busy day over here (today is the ‘trial of marriage substance’ day – please, wish us luck with the tree! – plus making a ginger bread house, cleaning our house…and the list goes on and on.) We’ll try hard to set priorities, preserve sanity, and keep the spirit alive!
Alexandra
Yes, but each intricate moment, Alexandra, is a thing of great Beauty and Loving Tradition; it is simply “there” for you all. Enjoy… With Warmth to you and yours, “Hen”
Aww – so, so sweet …
Thank you so much, Hen! And to you and yours health, happiness, and peace during this very special time!
Thank you, friend. Hen
reminder note to myself…
Poinsettia for the table
Bloom of festivity
Pretty little angel
To grace the Christmas tree
Lights and pretty candles
Lending their gentle glow
In tiny golden circles
Wee choirs in the snow
Cookies, cakes and puddings
In volumes quite obscene
Large and tiny presents
Wrapped in bright red and green
Songs extol the season
And malls the latest rave
Excuses become reason
As dollars become brave
Stress finds brand new victims
And cheer loses its mirth
All in the preparation
To celebrate His birth
Shopping lists extended
Beyond the budget’s creed
Holly, jolly merchants
Disguising greed as need
Christmas Eve descending
We brave the cold perhaps
To find within a chapel
A pew, where we collapse
My house sure looks amazing
The food, a work of art
Wouldn’t it be something
If this had been my heart
Janet
I liked your poem, but I’m so sorry you feel that way right now. Try watching ‘Charlie Brown’s Christmas’, Janet 🙂 Seriously, it’s a sweet cartoon, and Charlie lives in each of us, I know I can certainly relate to him. The spirit of Christmas is there, it hasn’t gone anywhere. Rejoice and be glad! With very warm wishes,
Alexandra
Thank-you Alexandra. I love Charlie Brown. He is my favorite, and I am excited for Christmas, but sometimes sadly without meaning to it seems I get caught up in the ‘mas’ rather than the Christ. This is a note to self not to put so much pressure on making sure everything ‘looks’ good ,but in finding it genuinely in my heart.
Merry Christmas and thank-you so much for your thoughts;)
I wish you and yours a lovely holiday, Janet; I love your poetry! Hen
Henrietta, Thank-you so much. I hope to see you all in the new Year.
Merry Christmas, all and God bless.
Great poem, Janet, this about sums it up.
“wouldn’t it be something if this had been my heart” – Janet, this brought tears to my eyes (not all that hard to do these days, truth be told but this was unexpected, it struck so close to home) – I love your poem and think we could probably all take a page on some level – the need to dial it back a bit, really enjoy the season, getting lost beneath all the rest … well put.
Believe me you are not alone in getting caught up… We’re trying to stay cool, but there’s just so much pressure, and so much excitement, it’s hard to cope sometimes, and to keep the important things in sight. But we’ll get there! Merry Christmas, and thank you again for visiting my blog! It’s nice to meet you,
Alexandra
Thank-you Alexandra, I really appreciate your understanding:)
Yes, I will see you in the New Year. Alexandra, I love to write and because of it I am going to try to set that part of me aside and devote my full attention to my ‘present moments’ for the next few weeks.
You Better Watch Out…
I think it all started
The day the tree went up….
The fighting seems to be less,
Something of a miracle
With girl of nine, boy thirteen.
It was subtle at first –
I hardly noticed –
Till I heard him offer a compliment,
Then two…. without being prompted.
They went running together yesterday,
And he let her keep up,
Then, when leaving for school
I heard ‘I love you’ from down their hall,
Followed by ‘love you too’.
I have not heard name calling or
Exchanged insults in days,
And just this morning
He took out the trash…
Without being asked,
And she fed the dogs.
In our hurrying to and fro
We almost missed one of
The greatest joys of the season –
Peace.
Seems it is not just the adults
That are getting prepared.
Oh…..so wonderful for your family!!! Hen
ditto Hen – lovely and well said in your poem, Mark
[…] Tags: Christmas, death and dying, giving, Homeless, Jesus, Madison, poetic bloomings, Presents Poetic Bloomings asked us how we are preparing for the “holiday season.” We celebrate Hanukkah and […]
FYI, the old form “3 = x + poem” I invented didn’t go over, in part because it was a stupid name! It is now called the Barlette, in honor of my dad, Bud Barlow, who could recite verse upon verse of Kipling and Service. Happy birthday, Dad (5 days early, he would have ben 101.)
Preparations, Busy Lady (a Barlette)
So many items tempt me
at the small shops on State.
Thusfar, these are some:
(of the sum total)
Warm socks for homeless men
and women, so desperate are these
forgotten people in need.
(Mary and Joseph)
Diapers – disposable, as baby’s
parents are provided a garbage bin
by the City of Madison.
(swaddling baby Jesus)
Donations, dough for digs that
ministers are hunting out and heating;
shelters, daytime rest and a hot meal.
(Magi, bearing gifts)
A homeless man died on a bench in front of
the Capitol Dome (ironic unless you live here);
Gov. charges $75 for “advocacy groups” to enter.
(No room at his inn)
If ever there was a season for advocacy,
for caring for the poor and despairing,
if not now – when? One prayer to offer.
(Christmas is about giving “Jesus style”)
© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
…..Thank you for this, Amy, it is so sad, but so very true! Hen
nicely done, Amy…I know it should make me thoughtful and maybe sad, but it also makes me angry and wanting to scream…Walker is only a symptom of a larger illness, and, I think that if he did not exist, the left would have had to invent him…people have knives and forks, and if they don’t have food, they have to cut something…like I said, nicely done, I don’t think I’ll require coffee this morning
Oh Amy – as always, your compassionate eloquence shines through your advocacy – cold, cold Madison sounds unfortunately much like my Arctic berg as far as the homeless and folks in need (I don’t think we’ve had anyone die on the Legislature steps yet – but it is locked and so it’s not beyond the pale here either) … I love this form you’ve invented to honour your Dad. Will give it a try if I think I have it figured out. A wonderful poem about preparedness …
Wonderful thoughts, Amy.
Prepping …
As with most repetitive operations
There is a protocol, a system
That once organized – the run-up
Should run smoothly, like clock-work
“Should run smoothly like clock-work”
That is, of course, the important phrase
No matter how many file cards
I fill out designating tasks to be done
No matter how far in advance
Those cards say I will begin:
Shopping, baking, decorating
To de-stress myself, and/or others
Somehow it seems, every year
I manage to defy the file-cards
Rebelling, saying, oh they’re overkill
Until, Christmas Eve … when
I’m so not prepared.
S.E.Ingraham©
I love this, Sharon. I am a big list person, and stickies are everywhere. Too bad I don’t always look at them in time.
LOL, right-on!
[…] Photo: Northern Arizona More Poetic Bloomings with the theme “Be Prepared” here More SkyWatch Friday photos here More Himmelsk photos here […]
[…] week on Poetic Bloomings Marie Elena and Walt ask us to look at preparation and being prepared, especially given the time of […]
Sorry this one is late; preparations for Christmas interferring with my muse. 😀
Hindsight
When all is done
and said
The guests are gone
and fed
Only then can I say
if on the day
My preparations
served us well.