Anna Cottage

MISTLETOE   –   BY WALTER DE LA MARE

Sitting under the mistletoe

(Pale-Green, fairy mistletoe),

One last candle burning low,

All the sleepy dancers gone,

Just one candle burning on,

Shadows lurking everywhere;

Someone came, and kissed me there.

 

Tired I was; my head would go

Nodding under the mistyletoe

(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),

No footsteps came, no voice, but only,

Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,

Stooped in the still and shadowy air

Lips unseen – and kissed me there.

============================================================================THE OXEN   –   BY THOMAS HARDY

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.

“Now they are all on their knees,”

An elder said as we sat in a flock

By the embers in hearthside ease.

 

We pictured the meek creatures where

They dwelt in their strawy pen,

Nor did it occur to one of us there

To doubt they were kneeling then.

 

So fair a fancy few would weave

In these years! Yet, I feel,

If  someone said on Christmas Eve,

“Come; see the oxen kneel.

 

“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb

Our  childhood used to know,”

I should go with him in the gloom,

Hoping it might be so.

============================================================================LITTLE TREE   –   BY E. E. CUMMINGS

Little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little you are more like a flower

 

Who found you in the green forewst

ad were you very sorry to come away?

see      I will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

 

I will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don’t be afraid

 

Look      the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads.

 

Put up your little arms

and I’ll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

 

Then when you’re quite dressed

you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they’ll stare!

oh but you’ll be very proud

 

and  my little sister and I will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we’ll dance and sing

“Noel Noel”

============================================================================THE MAGI   –   BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Now as at all times I can see in the mind’s eye,

In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones

Appear and disappear in the blue depths of the sky

With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones,

And all their helms of silver hovering side by side,

And all their eyes still fixed, hoping to find once more,

Being by Calvary’s turbulence unsatisfied,

The uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor.

============================================================================THIS CHRISTMAS TIDE   –    BY A.C

Warm and cosy

and all alone

stretched out on the floor

log burning fire all a glow

 

Freezing outside

and so much snow

we have all we need

but most of all

we are alone

 

The smile that runs across your face

your eyes penetrating mine

I love you and I know you love me

are we so selfish we want none to share

this precious Christmas tide

 

Just soaking up all there is

I won’t count the days

when we must go back

and you and I will part

for foreign fields

I wish not to think of

this precious Christmas tide

 

 

So we drink the Wine

and eat the nuts

the cold Turkey awaits

with Christmas trimmings

for us to partake

 

Please hold me tight

and keep me warm

and love me

as only you can do

when I kiss your lips

and touch your skin

and know that for now you are mine

this Christmas tide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One and Only Frank Sinatra  and this beautiful song.

 

 

 

HAVE A REALLY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2018.