As Christmas approaches every year, I worry about all the things to do — send cards, buy presents, mail packages, make travel plans. I feel overwhelmed.
Here is the poem I wrote a couple of years ago to express my frustration. It is in the classic villanelle rhyme scheme.
Jingle Bell Villanelle The ads and frantic shopping never cease, Salvation Army Santa clangs his bell. I seek, I crave, I yearn for sacred peace. I make a list of ev’ry aunt and niece, And smile at clerks with merchandise to sell. For two whole months my shopping does not cease. Music blares of swans and laying geese, All twelve days of Christmas ring and swell. I hide my ears and yearn for sacred peace. The piles of presents steadily increase, But advertisements beckon and impel Me back to stores; my shopping does not cease. Advent waiting morphs into caprice. I wish I could audaciously rebel Against the frenzy stealing sacred peace. I need a quiet moment of release, Escape from season’s harried buying hell, But ads and frantic shopping never cease. I seek, I crave, I yearn for sacred peace. * * * * *How are you coping with this holiday season?
Nice poem, it sums up the holiday season very well. I normally start shopping, writing cards, putting up decoration, etc. early so I can enjoy the week leading up to Christmas.
We give each kid $ and call it good. Oh, I buy some stocking stuffers, etc. but no big thing. Leaves room for quiet contemplation while I cook Christmas dinner. Participating in the Christmas play at church helps hone my thoughts toward the real reason for the season.
In our family, we have 3 birthdays and one anniversay between Dec. 14th and January 4th. Oh, and there is Christmas and New Years in there, too. I used to start all my shopping in July and finish before Thanksgiving, then came the year with losts of stress and I forgot some of my hiding places…
I try to be in the moment, each moment, and that keeps the stress levels down. I make lists of things and check them twice, then cross them on when done.
Years ago, my husband and I decided that Birthdays would be the BIG holiday of the year for the two of us and Christmas would be “sane” if we took care of everyone else and our Christmas present to each other was “time.” My husband is slightly cheated in that deal because my birthday is Christmas Eve.
Smiles,
Linda Joyce
Seems we’re all looking for a little peace and joy amid the chaos of the season. Hope we all find it this year!
[…] newsletter, some holiday travel, and you’ll see why the magic of Christmas has left me behind. Click here for a poem I wrote a few years ago about my holiday […]
Nice poem, it sums up the holiday season very well. I normally start shopping, writing cards, putting up decoration, etc. early so I can enjoy the week leading up to Christmas.
We give each kid $ and call it good. Oh, I buy some stocking stuffers, etc. but no big thing. Leaves room for quiet contemplation while I cook Christmas dinner. Participating in the Christmas play at church helps hone my thoughts toward the real reason for the season.
In our family, we have 3 birthdays and one anniversay between Dec. 14th and January 4th. Oh, and there is Christmas and New Years in there, too. I used to start all my shopping in July and finish before Thanksgiving, then came the year with losts of stress and I forgot some of my hiding places…
I try to be in the moment, each moment, and that keeps the stress levels down. I make lists of things and check them twice, then cross them on when done.
Years ago, my husband and I decided that Birthdays would be the BIG holiday of the year for the two of us and Christmas would be “sane” if we took care of everyone else and our Christmas present to each other was “time.” My husband is slightly cheated in that deal because my birthday is Christmas Eve.
Smiles,
Linda Joyce
Seems we’re all looking for a little peace and joy amid the chaos of the season. Hope we all find it this year!
[…] newsletter, some holiday travel, and you’ll see why the magic of Christmas has left me behind. Click here for a poem I wrote a few years ago about my holiday […]