Help - Christmas Poems

[PandaG]

I'm organising an Advent Crown making evening in a couple of weeks time. We will have mulled wine and nibbles, and slowly make candle crowns over the course of the evening, with some Christmassy readings and chat thrown in. I've got a few Christmas poems, and some Bible readings, but would like some more poems. Could anyone suggest some favourites please? Traditional, modern and alternative all welcome. TIA

[PandaG]

any ideas please

[Lilymaid]

Dylan Thomas - A Child's Christmans in Wales

[Lilymaid]

or Christmas!

[PandaG]

Thanks Lilymaid - will google it

any other suggestions?

[mildmanneredjanitor]

journey of the magi? my personal favouite.
or the john betjamin one ...can't remember what it's called.i'll go and find it.

[PandaG]

I love Journey of the Magi - was one I ws going to use. One by Betjeman would be good too. Thanks

[mildmanneredjanitor]

do you know the betjamin one? have jsut found it so can type it out?

[mildmanneredjanitor]

here you go!

The bells of waiting Advent ring,
The Tortoise stove is lit again
And lamp-oil light across the night
Has caught the streaks of winter rain.
In many a stained-glass window sheen
From Crimson Lake to Hooker's Green.

The holly in the windy hedge
And round the Manor House the yew
Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,
The altar, font and arch and pew,
So that villagers can say
'The Church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial public houses blaze
And Corporation tramcars clang,
On lighted tenements I gaze
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'

And London shops on Christmas Eve
Are strung with silver bells and flowers
As hurrying clerks the City leave
To pigeon-haunted classic towers,
And marbled clouds go scudding by
The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,
And oafish louts remember Mum,
And sleepless children's hearts are glad,
And Christmas morning bells say 'Come!'
Even to shining ones who dwell
Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true? and is it true?
The most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

And is it true? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant.

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was Man in Palestine
And lives to-day in Bread and Wine.

[PandaG]

Thank you so much - I have heard it before but not got a copy - that is great

[PandaG]

any more ideas from the morning crowd - I need quite a few poems. Thanks

[laudaud]

The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore

[laudaud]

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

[PandaG]

Thanks Laudad - that is a real classic

[Twiglett]

is this a party? or a charity thing? or connected with an organisation

just curious

[PandaG]

Thanks so much CF, love the Pam Ayres, is funny but thought provoking too. The Longfellow is great, may be a bit long for the evening though - will read it and time it. That website will be very useful, thanks so much.

It is not a charity thing, more a social get together Twig. Another mum from school and I are just organising it as a way to get to know some of the other parents in our childrens' classes a bit better, while making advent crowns (or wreaths, same thing just a different name), and talking a bit about what Christmas means to each one of us. A chance to have fun and drink mulled wine and get in a Christmassy mood. If you were nearer Sheffield I would ask you to join us!

[PandaG]

I am walking round the area eyeing up all the evergreens I see, and asking everyone I know with holly bushes if I can go and prune them next week! Cardboard and wire sounds a good idea if we run out of bases, thanks!

[PandaG]

One of my friends drives everywhere with a pair of secateurs in her glovebox in the last week of November - she feels she is doing the local council a favour! Hmm, now you lot have supplied me with lots of fab poems I may well start a thread asking for people nearby with evergreens they would be happy for me to trim!