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I wrap myself in memories: Transformation! Mittened hands support the warming tree, As snow is shaken from boughs, Its scent fills the room prepared for it, Now the tree so tall, so round, festooned with lights of every colour, with ornaments made of love and paper. “O Holy Night,” “O Tannenbaum,” We sing to you.
A little girl feels organ music fill her body As it fills the tiny church, While candlelight sparkles in her eyes “Joy to the World!” Joy, joy, joy.
Glasses of sherry, tumblers of eggnog, Punch cups of hot and spicy apple juice, The popping and spitting of the fire log. “Crack,” go the walnut shells, brown and sharp. And small faces with shining eyes, Moonlight on snow.
Anticipation! Presents in bright, shiny paper or red and green cloth bags Kitchen smells, teasing the nose, inviting peeks and sniffs and tastes.
Closer and closer, the days fill with preparation, Now favourite poems, concerts, and ballet, Mrs. Protheroe, Sugar Plum Fairy and Drosselmeier Skating snowflakes, Reindeer, sleepy children. The voice of poets, sopranos, harps.
Fulfillment!
Chilly morning, pyjamas and slippers, Tree so holy, with lights that glow, A steaming cup to warm the hands, New stockings, Ribbon candy, chocolate, oranges, tiny gifts. Then large gifts, in boxes, to take apart or put together, Puzzles, books, Ah, lovely books.
Then dresses of velvet and silk, Friends with smiles, at the door, Boots and coats. Food to enthrone on the table The steaming vegetables. Candles to light, The gleaming china, the tree-reflecting silver, linens of white, red, green. A winter feast. Food to enthrone on the table The steaming vegetables. Candles to light, The gleaming china, the tree-reflecting silver, linens of white, red, green. A winter feast. Then the fire and singing, Charades and games to make us laugh. Old ones now young. Together we meet, this year and always.
I wrap myself in my cloak of deepest scarlet, of cedar green, of walnut brown, Of cinnamon and pine, of wood smoke and oranges, Of organ music, children’s voices, church bells and crunching snow. Of chill winds and wood fires Of sweets and spices, Of loved-ones’ faces, hugs and promises, And pinned on my heart with a jewelled clasp made from the sparkle in a child’s eyes, of Moonlight and starlight, My Christmas memories cloak sustains me, enfolds me, delights me. Amber Harvey |