Friday, December 7, 2012

Welcome Everyone, to the Virtual Advent Tour


It's so very nice of you to stop by. 

I'm happy to be joining the Virtual Advent Tour for 2012. (The tentative schedule for the posts can be found here.)

It's my first time and I was really excited to sign up, but then reality set in. What was I going to share?

As I cast back through the years to my favorite Christmas moments in search of a topic, they all have one thing in common - the warm glow of colored lights on the tree, in the garlands framing the windows and mantle, and any place else I could find to put them. Just thinking about those lights brings back the sights, sounds, and scents of the holiday.

We usually don't take our Christmas lights down until after the Epiphany, (January 6) but have been known to leave them up until well into February, for no reason other than that we liked the way the house feels with them on.

I looked and looked, but I was not able to find a poem about Christmas lights. I'll have to rectify that for next year. In the meantime I'd like to share with you a Christmas poem. It's not one of the usual poems we see at this time of the year, but it's a sweet little one about that mainstay of the season, the Christmas tree.

[little tree]
- E. E. Cummings
close up photo of decorated Christmas tree and white candle

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and 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"

I wish for you and yours a wish that everyone can share

Peace on Earth ~ Good Will to All

14 comments:

  1. Lovely poem and picture! Thanks! Have Blessed Christmas and New Year!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed them, and blessings to you too.

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  2. Happy Advent! Merry Christmas!!

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  3. Thanks for sharing the beautiful poem. I live the cozy feeling with the room lit by the tree and could leave it up for months. Glad you joined the advent tour.

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    1. Thank you for the warm welcome. It has deepened my appreciation of the season and I'm so glad I joined.

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  4. What a lovely poem for the tree! I always felt guilty too when they were taken from the forest - I really like what ee cummings said, about adorning the tree with glory.

    I love the lights too, at this time of year. The Christmas lights are among my favourite parts of the holidays.

    thank you for sharing, this was a lovely post, Snowball. Have a very happy Christmas!

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    1. I always felt guilty too. We've planted a redwood tree in the yard to string with lights every year. And we put up my mother's collection of ceramic trees in the house.

      Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

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  5. Thank you so much for participating in the tour and for sharing this poem.

    I hope you have a very happy Christmas.

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    1. Thank you for the warm welcome and Merry Christmas to you too.

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  6. Beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you very much, and Merry Christmas to you, too!

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  7. Love the poem and the picture! Thanks for joining in!

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    1. Thank you. I am loving the many wonderful contributions.

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