Poetry for the week of Christmas

Poetry (pen) Pals #48

Photo by Dorien Monnens on Unsplash

Hello, hello,

I was debating what to post this week, if at all. Is anyone still writing at this point? Still searching out poetry?

I decided that probably, yes. In fact, with all the potential for heightened emotions and the doubling down of workload at this time of year, perhaps a quiet moment with a poem and a pen is exactly what’s needed.

I know I’ll be clinging on to my usual early morning journaling stints, for most of the week anyway. I don’t think I’ll get away with it on Wednesday morning!!!

But still, nothing too taxing. My mind is full of lists and plans, the makings of magic, plenty of wanting to hold on tight to these small hands I know I only get to hold for a short time before they grow up and want to sleep in until midday on Christmas Day.

So, how about seven simple nudges to write ‘something’ this week. Seven nudges to capture what is beautiful at this time of year.

Because at this time of year I’m bombarded with reminders of everything we’ve got wrong - the mass over consumption a drain, the packaging and plastic a disaster for our planet, the sugar overload (and the constant hype) a lot for our kids, the treadmill of busy a fatigue for our minds. Not to mention the inequalities and unfairness that become so very stark. Regardless of my own individual impact, the wider scale of the issues can feel overwhelming.

And so we cling to the moments of joy and relief. The kindnesses that also seem to come to the forefront.

I’m stood in a queue and a woman pushes in front of me, rude and grumpy. I raise my eyebrows and catch the eye of another customer who does the same. We share a moment - an acknowledgement that this time of year is pretty stressful. We smile at each other. We end up chatting mindless chat while we wait. I find out she has grand-daughters. It feels nice. My eldest daughter has sewn, without any direction from me, Christmas scrunchies as presents for refugees her age. She has parcelled them up and attached labels - “Made especially for you with love, from Mabel.” I close my eyes and swallow. I walk in the front door and the smell of the Christmas tree hits me - if I stop long enough to breathe deeply I experience this numerous times a day.

Are these things a bit cliche? I don’t care if they are. I am here for them.

I like the idea of seven tiny noticings. I like the idea that they may or may not be actual ‘poems’ - doesn’t matter. Doesn’t all poetry start off with a noticing of some sort? My head is too full of thoughts of chocolate and stockings to consider my own question but I do know that kindnesses and tiny moments of joy are most definitely worth logging. There is magic to be uncovered in the smallest details. That beyond the photos of present unwrapping and cracker pulling, there are other things I think I’d like to remember in years to come…

---

Your Writing Prompts for this Week:

I quite like the idea of literally leaving room in my journal to observe and write about seven tiny moments in the coming week. One a day. I might even try and get my kids involved too (always a long shot but I like a challenge). And at some point in future maybe one of those observations will turn into a poem.

But if that all feels too vague, then here are seven single word prompts that could also work:

1. Anticipation

2. Unwrap

3. Night before

4. Tiny Christmas Poem

5. Indulge

6. Light

7. In between

Write a line a day? Write a few lines a day? Write something. Write nothing.

Just find yourself a comfy spot on a sofa with a nice drink and some poetry to read. Ooh I am wishing this for you.

Happy Christmas my friends.

Nelly

xxx