Advent

week 1

fingernail cuts into

tender porous surface

and you begin

to carefully tear

off the peel

tiny citrus jets

waft into air

scent of newness

of early morning

fingers moist with it

and anticipation begins

mouth ready with wetness 

week 2

break into sections

each one holding

promise for future

fulfillment of sweet

juicy release

and gently with

thumb and forefinger

clear away strings

of white pulp

putting them into waiting mouth
a satisfying cleaning

week 3

use teeth to
scrape away last of pulp
baring section to
naked orange goodness
sometimes a squirt
of juice escapes
heightening anticipation

week 4

bite into bursting pocket
let sweet juice
fill mouth with
eye-opening joy
as angels sing
and shepherds run

family storm

gathering awaits

through double doors 

and we start out

carving path through new snow

on road heading to highway

with wind pulling and pushing the car

and snow obscures vision

drifting across asphalt in

curling serpents of

pride

and innuendo

and anger

going slow through

built-up snow  

so we turn around

and go back

fighting wind on the

other side  

we’ll try again tomorrow

when reading from Luke 2

and heartfelt prayer can begin

to bring peace to these

stormy hearts

Christmas morning 2013

hazelnut coffee aftertaste lingers in mouth

here alone while the cat complains it is still

dark outside fresh snow feathers edges I

plug in Christmas tree its mini lights glowing

the morning all the presents wait underneath

for children now adults memory stretches

back to Santa days when house hardly contained

excitement of three children finally able to

empty the stockings and unwrap the dreams

come true and I wonder what Christmas dreams

will come true today as the day lightens and my

feathered soul readies itself to hover one more

time and catch the magic of family music and

savour the aftertaste

December engagement announcement

simple statement flies through the air

on wings of a bursting

smile  

gentle carols play background and

jigsaw puzzle of family

festiveness  

flavours rise from mugs of tea and

eyes dance delicious chocolates and

cookies

 

and our ears catch the wondrous

words of attachment and lasting

love  

adorned by simple necklace white pendant

and silver ring    gifts of radiant

abandon

Vivaldi's Gloria

red-tied notes begin sounding octaves

heralding praise

announcing prince of peace born on

earth  

and we shepherds stand in awe

gazing up at

dotted rhythmed Gloria a repeated

exclamation mark in the heavens pointing to  

expressive minor peace on earth

suspensions lingering

labouring to resolve into

warm harmonic union  

all inspired by holy

incarnation

incarnadine

cry of joy

winter wonder

I drive this frosted road

on this winter morning

numb and sleepy car struggling

to warm itself into fourth gear

and on my left the orange glow

becomes the glorious sun

dominating perfectly straight horizon

thinking I am alive when this happens

alive to the wonder of a sunrise on a

dark cold world

waiting               watching for incarnation

Madiba

our meagre house lights colour

darkness

in this month of the Christ

event  

and then one Thursday

a white-haired

gentle

giant

slips away from this weary  world

leaving vacuum

the closest we came here

to the essence of Christmas carol  

fighter in the ring

turned freedom fighter

turned prophet in prison

languishing leaden soul

released to calls for vindictive revenge

instead called for

reconciliation

forgiveness

peace

and by a force of

giant

gentle

will

brought it about  

  

staff party

feels like we should sing

Silent Night

in this big house near Cooks Creek  

slightly chilled and dark

candles and flashlights glowing

power went out on coldest night and

we gather to party Christmas  

is this the right place

she said that we would be able to

see the lights  

and we sit

huddled into ourselves

body heat emanating

barely making out faces in the near darkness  

but laughter and talk begins

to drown out dim coolness

that threatens ears  

and instead I hear

that old impromptu song

written when the organ didn’t work

and which now defines the season

celebrating the one born in

makeshift cradle

with only the stars for light

Christmas cookies

she

starts

from

scratch

the basics

elemental ingredients 

aniseedcocoachaiwalnuts

sugarflourgingerchocolate

ammoniabuttervanilla  

mixed

formed

baked

into bite-sized sweetness

into dozens of delights

into warm wonders

into celebrations of

the basics

 

lovejoypeacehope

tree angel

angel in white wings

warily perched on top of

sparkling artificial

Ave Maria

no telling where the mystery will penetrate

the soul it could be in a gym with bleachers

and rafters and shuffling kids wiggling on

plastic chairs and I’m standing in the back

listening to waves of purity coming from

choir on the makeshift stage young voices

sing the mysterious mother of God and

I am winded doubled over punched in the

gut with beauty and the

truth of love

Christmas Cactus

tender red petals

emerge prickly green stems

of small plant in small pot

resting serenely on round glass platform 

window behind it provides

pure white background of new

snow  

as winter winds its

fingers

around the throat of

warmth and life  

and we enter the

tunnel of advent

with our brave petal headlights

on