The Week Between Christmas and New Year
These are the strange and dull and heavy days
(in the Northern Hemisphere at least –
we seldom spare a thought for what ordeal
our brothers and sisters, basking in the summer sun
are passing through in mind…)
For children, these are precious days, of course –
waking each morning to the knowledge of new toys—
(premature, by orthodox tradition – a birth, of course,
but not yet the presents that are due
to celebrate the Epiphany, the showing-forth of Love Itself)
but are there other gifts which grown-ups have not found,
buried in the garden soil, the frozen fields?
For it seems this week, as if the earth and nature
are caught up in some mighty pull
as this great globe itself rounds some vast narrow bend
and we with it; as if we are nature, earth as well:
aroused by some peremptory alarm clock
at some ungodly, godly hour,
to help push up the snowdrops from their roots
and all other things that must be stirring in the earth
to feed and flower.
Some esoterics say that these seven days
are rich with some strange octave in the mind
whose qualities are sensed within our music’s scale:
some universal starting power; reluctance; recovery;
faintheartedness; a sunny strength; need for authority;
yearning for completeness – these, they say,
are to be lived through in the mind;
these to be lightly seen and sung in heart;
best, in these over-eaten days, to participate
in joyous activities in company..
Others whose star is in the East
look for a sequence of twelve days of Christmas:
wisdom has set out from Persian lands afar
on its journey to acknowledge new-born love;
some old order gathered in the safe sheepfold of strict law
knowing in its wisdom, it’s now time –
the law known and secure -
to learn the new-born testament of love;
All this, buried in the Christmas tree’s root and branch,
the holly and the mistletoe, the alert, fierce robin
sitting on a needful spade,
the angel (wondering if it still has a place in our hearts,
but knowing the powers that its wand
may never lose)
In these strange and dull and heavy days
all this, all these, the presents yet to find,
we could not make or buy; lie wrapped in mind.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Related quotes
Epiphany
January 6 is coming up –
end of the ‘twelve days of Christmas’:
scrape up the Christmas cards –careful
to note addresses where they’ve changed, and
the people who sent to you this year, when
you didn’t send to them..
out with the tree before
it sheds any more needles,
box the decorations into the loft;
yet not an end, but a beginning,
as Eliot might have put it; a cold coming they’re having of it;
they’re still some days away,
the way harsh; the land, strange;
the camels finding harder tread than sand..
for devotees and followers in their footsteps
we’re curiously incurious about that myth
we love to love – is it because
we fear to look too close?
Twelve days they took, measured by the star;
men of wisdom seeking for the birth of some greater love;
what then was needful? Did it need
twelve days, perhaps, for that babe to adjust
to earth – as if from some divine ‘entry burns’?
Or twelve days for his mother to adjust
to heaven in person present?
And what meanwhile, did the shepherds do?
Even if they were nomads, they could not have been
many Palestinian hills away? Or were they asking round
the inns and stables for some strange event
which they would only understand
when they chanced upon it?
Twelve days for the stabled animals
and a family which evidently did not rise
on the local council’s temporary housing list,
to get to know each other (and we are to assume
they must have popped out at some stage, to enrol…) :
Epiphany: the ‘showing-forth’;
today we’d call it
a media opportunity.
No photoflash, recording gear, among the hay and straw;
just stillness, silence, a baby’s smile; homage unrehearsed;
was there more movement than the old masters portray in paint?
what words were said – for surely there were words?
What light, though, shines, like infra-red,
what songs are sung, like ultrasound,
what magnet draws the iron aged hearts of all:
wisdom, a stable, cattle, a new-born, love.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Christmas To Christmas
Seems like only yesterday
We put our Christmas things away
Now here's another Christmas day with you
When you're in love, how time does fly
And this year that's just flown by
Had been one happy holiday for two
Christmas to Christmas
Wrapped in your arms
Love's always in season
And always so warm
Till my days on earth are through
I will spend Christmas to Christmas lovin' you
Yes, the givin' season's here again
Time to love your fellow man
Yuletide smiles are in demand, it's true
The love we share is for all time
We'll feel its glow right through July
To melt the cold when winter flies anew
Christmas to Christmas
Wrapped in your arms
Love's always in season
And always so warm
Till my days on earth are through
I will spend Christmas to Christmas lovin' you
Till my days on earth are through
I will spend Christmas to Christmas lovin' you
song performed by by Toby Keith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Merry Christmas Santa Happy New Year!
Joys can come in many ways -
Especially on our Christmas Days:
New presents wrapped exquisitely...
New presents unwrapped expertly!
In times like these, the heart beats fast
For Christmas Day has come at last!
Excitement tempts us take a peak!
Remembered lists of gifts we seek!
If only all our days were so:
Season's wishes would overflow!
Look here! Look there! Look everywhere!
Our hopes and dreams fulfilled by prayer!
Visits by friends and folks we love -
Each acting gentle as a dove!
Lights on Christmas trees that cheer!
Yet Christmas joys come ONCE a year!
poem by Denis Martindale
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Strange Days
Sometimes we have strange days
when you are going somewhere
you have been countless times before.
As you drive down the roads,
it is as if it is the first time you have been there.
Arriving at your destination
everyone you see reminds you of someone else
in a different place many miles from where you are.
With some, it is the way they walk,
in others the ways they do their hair.
Strange days when nothing
seems the way it should be.
You journey through the day
as if you’re walking in a dream,
all the time wondering
when reality is going to kick in.
How will you feel tomorrow
when you wake to a new day,
will it be as strange as the one
you experienced today.
Only tomorrow knows
and its secrets it is not giving up
to you or anyone else.
Until the day is over more strange things
you may uncover
on what I call strange days
that happen occasionally in our lives.
18 July 2009
poem by David Harris
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I Thought, I Think, I Know
Gone are the days,
When i thought love was a myth,
Gone are the days,
When i thought women are the same,
Gone are the days,
When i thought i wont find love again
Gone are the days, so so gone
Here are the days,
When i think love is a gift,
Here are the days
When i think you a blessing,
Here are the days,
When i think these are the days,
The days to love you more
Yet are the days,
To know i will love with doubt,
Yet are the days,
To know you are my wife,
Yet are the days, the days to love,
To care and protect
poem by Gaylord Munemo
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Only A Limited Time
So 5 days of silence
5 days to compile
5 days to realize
This inner peace will take awhile.
Consumed by brother's weakness
Enraged by father's hate
Only now I've had 5 days
To sit and contemplate.
Showing people sides of me
That they have never seen
Giving out pamphlets
Trying to chart what all this means.
So 5 days to find an angel.
One I thought was lost.
Five days to reconnect
With time that exceeds
All past times lost.
Now I'm regaining energy
It is so hard to behave.
I'm ready to move on to
Passions.
It is real feelings that I crave.
I want to feel beauty
Happiness
Some release.
I say the feeling surpasses
Comfort and soars right on to peace.
5 days to make sure
Heart has to relate straight to mind.
5 days to realize that you
Really want only one flows free kind.
5 days it has been
To get back to ground.
To make sure that
I would not miss out
On this new flow that I have found.
5 days contain so much
5 days that seem so gone
5 days to become lost
5 days to carry on.
poem by Raechael Woodroof
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Nobody Told Me
Everybodys talking and no one says a word
Everybodys making love and no one really cares
Theres nazis in the bathroom just below the stairs
Always something happening and nothing going on
Theres always something cooking and nothing in the pot
Theyre starving back in china so finish what you got
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Strange days indeed -- strange days indeed
Everybodys runnin and no one makes a move
Everyones a winner and nothing left to lose
Theres a little yellow idol to the north of katmandu
Everybodys flying and no one leaves the ground
Everybodys crying and no one makes a sound
Theres a place for us in the movies you just gotta lay around
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama
Everybodys smoking and no ones getting high
Everybodys flying and never touch the sky
Theres a ufo over new york and I aint too surprised
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Nobody told me thered be days like these
Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama
song performed by by Lennon John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nobody Told Me
Three, four!
Evrybodys talking and no one says a word,
Evrybodys making love and no one really cares.
Theres nazis in the bathroom, just below the stairs.
Always something happening and nothing going on,
Theres always something cooking and nothing in the pot.
Theyre starving back in china, so finish what you got.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Strange days indeed.
Evrybodys runnin and no one makes a move,
Evryones a winner and no one seems to lose.
Theres a little yellow idol to the north of katmandu.
Evrybodys flying and no one leaves the ground,
Evrybodys crying and no one makes a sound.
Theres a place for us in movies, you just gotta lay around.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Most peculiar, mama!
Evrybodys smoking and no ones getting high,
Evrybodys flying and never touch the sky.
Theres ufos over new york and I aint too surprised.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Most peculiar, mama - roll!
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nobody Told Me
Three, four!
Evrybodys talking and no one says a word,
Evrybodys making love and no one really cares.
Theres nazis in the bathroom, just below the stairs.
Always something happening and nothing going on,
Theres always something cooking and nothing in the pot.
Theyre starving back in china, so finish what you got.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Strange days indeed.
Evrybodys runnin and no one makes a move,
Evryones a winner and no one seems to lose.
Theres a little yellow idol to the north of katmandu.
Evrybodys flying and no one leaves the ground,
Evrybodys crying and no one makes a sound.
Theres a place for us in movies, you just gotta lay around.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Most peculiar, mama!
Evrybodys smoking and no ones getting high,
Evrybodys flying and never touch the sky.
Theres ufos over new york and I aint too surprised.
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Nobody told me thered be days like these,
Strange days indeed,
Most peculiar, mama - roll!
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Countdown To Christmas Party Time
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
Were so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
Were so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Grab a woman beneath the mistletoe,
Kiss her lips and make her glow.
No more fighting, no more fuss,
Ah, its christmas!
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
Were so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
Were so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Eat and drink and dance some more,
Invite the whole street through your door.
Sing out loud, dont swear or cuss
Ah, its christmas!
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
Were so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
Were so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Countdown.
10 days.
Countdown to christmas.
9 days.
Countdown.
8 days.
Countdown to christmas.
7 days.
Countdown.
6 days.
Countdown to christmas.
5 days.
Countdown.
4 days.
Countdown to christmas.
3 days.
Countdown.
2 days.
Countdown to christmas.
1 day.
Ah, its christmas!
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strange Days
Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town
Yeah!
Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it
Yeah!
Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone
song performed by by The Doors
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Days From Knowing
(gillian welch/matt rollings)
Now the nights turned pink
On the eastern edges
But the sky is cold and still
And I wonder if its the sunrise
Warning the desert
Or the lights of tucson from over the hill
Its a hard way to love you
This long distance romance
Always stopping and starting again
I dont mind the miles
When im out on the highway
But even when im with you the miles just dont end
And im two days from knowing
Whether I can be strong
If I spend one more night in your arms
So ive a mind to keep going
And drive right past your door
But im two days from knowing for sure
As the night closes down
It fills the horizon
And stretches it out at the seams
And im not sure if tomorow
Im gonna be any closer
To closing the distance between you and me
And im two days from knowing
Whether I can be strong
If I spend one more night in your arms
So ive a mind to keep going
And drive right past your door
But im two days from knowing for sure
Well ive a mind to keep going
And drive right past your door
But im two days from knowing for sure
song performed by by Trisha Yearwood
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strange Days
Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
Theyre going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town
Yeah!
Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it
Yeah!
Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone
song performed by by Doors
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Christmas Fancies
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,
We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago.
And etched on vacant places,
Are half forgotten faces
Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know –
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow.
Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near,
We see, with strange emotion that is not free from fear,
That continent Elysian
Long vanished from our vision,
Youth’s lovely lost Atlantis, so mourned for and so dear,
Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near.
When gloomy gray Decembers are roused to Christmas mirth,
The dullest life remembers there once was joy on earth,
And draws from youth’s recesses
Some memory it possesses,
And, gazing through the lens of time, exaggerates its worth,
When gloomy gray December is roused to Christmas mirth.
When hanging up the holly or mistletoe, I wis
Each heart recalls some folly that lit the world with bliss.
Not all the seers and sages
With wisdom of the ages
Can give the mind such pleasure as memories of that kiss
When hanging up the holly or mistletoe, I wis.
For life was made for loving, and love alone repays,
As passing years are proving for all of Time’s sad ways.
There lies a sting in pleasure,
And fame gives shallow measure,
And wealth is but a phantom that mocks the restless days,
For life was made for loving, and only loving pays.
When Christmas bells are pelting the air with silver chimes,
And silences are melting to soft, melodious rhymes,
Let Love, the worlds beginning,
End fear and hate and sinning;
Let Love, the God Eternal, be worshipped in all climes
When Christmas bells are pelting the air with silver chimes.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Our Christmas Celebration
We pause at this Christmas season
To celebrate the birth of a King
We gather ‘round within our church
For everyone has something to bring
We put on a Christmas program
In which the children participate
They learn the true meaning of Christmas
Share in Jesus’ special birthday cake
They learn about the art of giving
They set aside their own desire
For they celebrate the birth of Jesus
As they listen to the Christmas choir
They concentrate on the dear little baby
Who was born on this extraordinary day
Ask for peace on earth for everyone
As they bow their sweet heads and pray
And then, of course there’s plenty of time
For Santa and delightful Elves as well
As we watch these precious children
The hearts in all of us swell
Let us view the holiday season
The way these children see
And wish for peace for everyone
While we sit ‘round the Christmas tree!
poem by Marilyn Lott
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Ups And Downs
So precious are our days upon this earth,
From life's very start, at our moment of birth,
Through our childhood years, so free from cares,
Then into adulthood, with its many shares
Of ups and downs, and sadness and joy,
Children for us perhaps, a girl and a boy.
Into middle age, then way beyond,
If only we could wave a magic wand
And choose each step that we should take,
The right decisions, that we should make,
But alas, our judgement is not always right,
Sometimes we can fail to see the light.
So life will be filled with ups and downs,
Days of laughter and days of frowns,
But through our days, whether stormy or fine,
These precious days are still yours and mine.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Christmas Gifts
Ten Christmas presents standing in a line;
Robert took the bicycle, then there were nine.
Nine Christmas presents ranged in order straight;
Bob took the steam engine, then there were eight.
Eight Christmas presents--and one came from Devon;
Robbie took the jackknife, then there were seven.
Seven Christmas presents direct from St. Nick's;
Bobby took the candy box, then there were six.
Six Christmas presents, one of them alive;
Rob took the puppy dog, then there were five.
Five Christmas presents yet on the floor;
Bobbin took the soldier cap, then there were four.
Four Christmas presents underneath the tree;
Bobbet took the writing desk, then there were three.
Three Christmas presents still in full view;
Robin took the checker board, then there were two.
Two Christmas presents, promising fun,
Bobbles took the picture book, then there was one.
One Christmas present--and now the list is done;
Bobbinet took the sled, and then there were none.
And the same happy child received every toy,
So many nicknames had one little boy.
poem by Carolyn Wells
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One Of Those Days
Its been one of those days
That reminded me in many ways
Of when we were happy, still in love
Just a certain way the wind blows
Just a certain way the sun glows
Its been one of those days that reminded me of us
And even though its over I never will get over
These feelings that I get on certain days
And I know Ill always love you
And Ill always be thinkin of you
In certain kinds of ways, on certain kinds of days
And today well, its been one of those days
Its been one of those days and my heart feels so heavy
And my mind is so full of thoughts of you
Its been one of those days and Id give my life to see you
And to once more know the love that we once knew
And even though its over I never will get over
Oh these feelings that I get on certain days
I guess I know Ill always love you
And Ill always be thinkin of you
In certain kinds of ways, on certain kinds of days
And today well, its been one of, one of those days
Its been one of those days
That reminded me in many ways
Of when we were happy, still in love
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bring Your Tender love To Me
Time goes on and my mind goes up,
But the muse of love is what i do bring closer to you;
And it is like the experiences of my mind to teach many.
The human nature,
Of the human love attached to bring you closer;
And like your tender love behind the coconut tree.
Many are to learn from my poetry and,
Like the expressions of my mind from a realm;
For it is all about love and peace on this earth.
This is all about love and life,
This is all about love and peace,
This is all about love and care,
This is all about love and joy,
For we have to express ourselves at all times;
So do bring your tender love to me my sweet one.
This love of a muse is about you,
This place of a care is about you,
This heart of a peaceful mind is about you,
And this special love goes to you always;
For it is like the thousand days gone by in the cold of love.
Where are your arms to keep me warm?
For i do think only about your tender love all day long;
And like the true love that will wake me up during the summer.
Your tender love is all that i need so,
Bring up your love to me that it may muse with the golden tree!
For my mind is on you always that,
I will be there always to love you with the kisses from a realm.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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A Time Of the Year
It is funny how memories
of old friends appear
at just around Christmas
every year.
Your mind drifts off to places
you used to know
and all the fun
you used to enjoy there.
Back to the school days
how joyous they were,
but ask anyone how they felt about them
and they’ll tell you they hated it there.
In truth, it was the best years of our lives.
A time before the world
and its pressures closed in,
a time of laughter, no tears there.
Lazy days of summers
that seemed to last all year,
and at Christmas
everyone’s favourite time of the year,
gifts spilled out from the bottom of the tree.
Those times are all now gone,
but we can still relive
the joys we used to know
through the eyes of our children
and their children
at this time of the year.
12 December 2007
poem by David Harris
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