Christmas Chorus 2008

As poets, we tend to look at the world in a different light. The average person will usually glance at something and move on, expunging the image from their memory, but not a poet. A poet will pause or take a second look; something within his or her soul will stir and the seed of a poem will be planted. We were forever changed the moment we witnessed something that inspired us to take up a pen or pencil and share our experience with the other inhabitants of our little blue planet. Christmas is the season of giving, but poets give year-round.

We are a community of kindred spirits and a chorus of unique voices. With the help of a few friends, I've put together a Christmas montage that we hope you'll enjoy.


Christmas Montage 2008


short days
a baby born
with a long shadow

Paul O.Williams (California, USA)
Mariposa, 2002


yuletide—
savoring the crunch
of a Moravian cookie

Curtis Dunlap (North Carolina, USA)
Blogging Along Tobacco Road, Dec. 2008


speeding motorbikes―
Trini Santas with gifts in
yellow plastic bags

-gillena cox; 2008 (Trinidad and Tobago)
Trini = short form for People of Trinidad and Tobago


                Christmas Eve
the pavement-sweeper’s sweepings
              blow down the road

Matthew Paul (Twickenham, UK)
The Regulars (Snapshot Press, 2006).


first snow
at every window
a child's face

Roberta Beary (Washington, DC; USA)
Haiku Happens (1998)


in the snow
   the child flies—
        angel wings

Aurora Antonovic (Ontario, Canada)
Autumn Leaves (Volume 9 Number 3)


the autistic boy
conducts his own carols—
gulls beseeching

John McDonald (Edinburgh, UK)
zen speug, 2008


starlight
on the harp strings
Christmas Eve

Peggy Willis Lyles (Georgia, USA)
Woodnotes #31


Last minute―
Santa Claus catches
the bus

Angelika Wienert (North Rhine Westfalia, Germany)
Asahi, Dec. 2003


And for your viewing and listening pleasure, I present to you via YouTube another chorus: The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir. This scene is from The Bishop's Wife (1947) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Cary portrays an angel in this wonderful holiday movie, sent to assist a bishop (David Niven) in the building of a cathedral. Here is but one of the many miracles the angel performs:



My sincere thanks to all who have given to me throughout 2008. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year!

Curtis Dunlap