Take 5ive Twenty Twenty Two Issue Five : Yuletide
Tuyet Van Do
no mistletoe
no ivy, no holly
what is there
to celebrate
when she is of ill health
red, green and gold
more and more
commercialization
adorn the shops
yuletide once more
Lafcadio
jingle
of the Salvation Army bell
Santa Claus
asking for change
on every corner
holiday lights
shining on every house
except
for the corner house
where the widower lives
Susan Burch
decorating
a gingerbread house –
the holidays
so much sweeter
when we’re together
wrapping
Christmas presents
will tape hold
the small tears
in our relationship
lying in bed
on Christmas
alone –
there is no holiday
from chronic migraines
Debbie Strange
strangers
dressed in red, singing
in our yard
a flock of cardinals
decorates the thicket
heirloom glasses
of mulled wine hold
the firelight . . .
wrinkled hands warmed
by memories of wonder
this festive table
glowing with candlelight
and smiles . . .
how fortunate we are
to be touched by grace
Roberta Beach Jacobson
lure
of the Northern Forest
I long
to be in the company
of the scent of Christmas
Ram Chandran
yuletide solitude
jasmine
spreads your scent
and the moon,
your memories
hospice patient-
folding origami christmas tree
one more reason
to live
the remaining life happily
christmas eve -
deepening my solitude
a robin song
answering
a distant robin song
Daniel Birnbaum
little Christmas box
with her initials
I do not open it
I'd rather keep her secrets
than her souvenirs
Anna Maria Domburg-Sancristoforo
snow landscape
only my breathing
in this whiteness
tonight I will dream
to be a child again
dry stone walls
in the silence of wind
the hiding places
for all the words
that no longer flow
Tracy Davidson
a quick peck
under the mistletoe
hungry birds
sharing Christmas leftovers
with the homeless
school nativity
long suffering teachers
listen
to another murdering
of silent night
Bryan Rickart
under
the mistletoe
a girl I love
kissing
someone else
the children
grown and gone
my wife
gives a heavy sigh
Christmas morning
the gift
of family
these holidays
geese gathering
in the small pond
Marilyn Humbert
Christmas evening
the full-throated song
of a thrush
fills our bushland valley
making me smile
the clusters
of rosehips and thorns
at Christmas
he confesses he’s not
leaving his wife
Neena Singh
white moth
on the chrysanthemum
it's yuletide
are you celebrating too
drinking this noon sunshine
yuletide--
taking out from the attic
last year's decorations
gently I hold aloft
the gold star you bought
a cool breeze
sways the backyard pine
this yuletide
the baby in grandma’s arms
rocks to her sweet lullaby
Christina Chin
a Christmas market
win with a lucky draw
—goodies in a hamper
all smiles
as we head home
seated on the floor
behind locked doors
presents
wrappers
and a list of names
Minal Sarosh
midnight service
the sound of church bells
and firecrackers
but the baby in her lap
still asleep
cold breeze
blowing in memories
of choir practices
and the hot pakodas
you got between breaks
clear winter sky
the sparkling of stars
campfire carols
the crackling flames
reflecting in your eyes
Rupa Anand
unwrapping gifts
wrapping Lymphedema
at Christmas
iTunes playing
Feliz Navidad
Yuletide
around the fake tree
live lights--
it’s beginning to look
a lot like Christmas . . .
Mona Bedi
snow moon
I talk my heart out to
the roadside Santa
hoping he fishes out happiness
from his brown satchel
moon before Yule--
celebrating Christmas
all alone
I listen to carols
over the radio
pandemic year
I light the Christmas tree
all alone
the thoughts of all I lost
shadow the evening
Eduard Schmidt-Zorner
early midwinter sunset
puts grey cloth over the day
full moon silvering the field
we wait with expectation
for the winter solstice
northern lights flutter
old mystery in the sky
black crows cry from afar
memories cling to the walls
Yuletide gathering with friends
Joy McCall
bare winter trees
snow-covered boulders
my Inuit friend
lost in the tracks
of a wild coyote
the Christingle service
the old church
filled with candlelight
I hear my mother singing
'this little light of mine ...'
over two thousand years
since Jupiter and Saturn
danced so close
the Magi saw one bright star
shining on Bethlehem
Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo
tattered clothes
and mismatched slippers
children singing
a mashup mondegreen
of christmas carols and jingles
simbang gabi:
church mass at dawn
with Filipinos
half-awake half-hungry
for bibingka and puto
Mirela Brăilean
under snow
even the dried plum tree
seem to blossom -
you are looking young
despite your white hair
.
the first snow
covers little by little
the maple leaves -
I still remember my mum
bandaging my skinned knees
Giuliana Ravaglia
Casa di nonna
sull'albero di Natale
i mandarini
luccica il ricordo
d'una infanzia felice
Grandma's house
on the Christmas tree
the tangerines
the memory shines
of a happy childhood
Vigiglia di Natale
shopping frenetico
nell'ora di punta
sul vecchio marciapiede
una ciotola vuota
Christmas Eve..
frenic shopping
in rush hour
on the old sidewalk
an empty bowl
Sul davanzale
una lampada accesa
all'imbrunire
fra le mani nude
raccolgo la speranza
On the windowsill
a lighted lamp
at dusk
between bare hands
I gather hope
Lynda Monahan
among the tall spruce
snow soft on the backs of deer
at the frozen river’s edge
they browse the cranberry bushes
the forest holds its winter hush
Sherry Grant
summertime
a butterfly’s dream
glistens
that white Christmas
I’ll never have
end of year
time again to dust
the trophies
baby birds now have
their own babies
Barbara Anna Gaiardoni
hang a star
on the Christmas tree
keep me away
from the horrors of war
and from our relatives
like the shooting star
that led the three wise men
this white orchid carries
a message of joy
and admiration.
Steve Wilkinson
Christmas Eve
in the shadows
the ghosts
of many pasts
all come out to play
Holly on the door
will it keep away
the misfortune
that walks
behind me
no mistletoe
no ivy, no holly
what is there
to celebrate
when she is of ill health
red, green and gold
more and more
commercialization
adorn the shops
yuletide once more
Lafcadio
jingle
of the Salvation Army bell
Santa Claus
asking for change
on every corner
holiday lights
shining on every house
except
for the corner house
where the widower lives
Susan Burch
decorating
a gingerbread house –
the holidays
so much sweeter
when we’re together
wrapping
Christmas presents
will tape hold
the small tears
in our relationship
lying in bed
on Christmas
alone –
there is no holiday
from chronic migraines
Debbie Strange
strangers
dressed in red, singing
in our yard
a flock of cardinals
decorates the thicket
heirloom glasses
of mulled wine hold
the firelight . . .
wrinkled hands warmed
by memories of wonder
this festive table
glowing with candlelight
and smiles . . .
how fortunate we are
to be touched by grace
Roberta Beach Jacobson
lure
of the Northern Forest
I long
to be in the company
of the scent of Christmas
Ram Chandran
yuletide solitude
jasmine
spreads your scent
and the moon,
your memories
hospice patient-
folding origami christmas tree
one more reason
to live
the remaining life happily
christmas eve -
deepening my solitude
a robin song
answering
a distant robin song
Daniel Birnbaum
little Christmas box
with her initials
I do not open it
I'd rather keep her secrets
than her souvenirs
Anna Maria Domburg-Sancristoforo
snow landscape
only my breathing
in this whiteness
tonight I will dream
to be a child again
dry stone walls
in the silence of wind
the hiding places
for all the words
that no longer flow
Tracy Davidson
a quick peck
under the mistletoe
hungry birds
sharing Christmas leftovers
with the homeless
school nativity
long suffering teachers
listen
to another murdering
of silent night
Bryan Rickart
under
the mistletoe
a girl I love
kissing
someone else
the children
grown and gone
my wife
gives a heavy sigh
Christmas morning
the gift
of family
these holidays
geese gathering
in the small pond
Marilyn Humbert
Christmas evening
the full-throated song
of a thrush
fills our bushland valley
making me smile
the clusters
of rosehips and thorns
at Christmas
he confesses he’s not
leaving his wife
Neena Singh
white moth
on the chrysanthemum
it's yuletide
are you celebrating too
drinking this noon sunshine
yuletide--
taking out from the attic
last year's decorations
gently I hold aloft
the gold star you bought
a cool breeze
sways the backyard pine
this yuletide
the baby in grandma’s arms
rocks to her sweet lullaby
Christina Chin
a Christmas market
win with a lucky draw
—goodies in a hamper
all smiles
as we head home
seated on the floor
behind locked doors
presents
wrappers
and a list of names
Minal Sarosh
midnight service
the sound of church bells
and firecrackers
but the baby in her lap
still asleep
cold breeze
blowing in memories
of choir practices
and the hot pakodas
you got between breaks
clear winter sky
the sparkling of stars
campfire carols
the crackling flames
reflecting in your eyes
Rupa Anand
unwrapping gifts
wrapping Lymphedema
at Christmas
iTunes playing
Feliz Navidad
Yuletide
around the fake tree
live lights--
it’s beginning to look
a lot like Christmas . . .
Mona Bedi
snow moon
I talk my heart out to
the roadside Santa
hoping he fishes out happiness
from his brown satchel
moon before Yule--
celebrating Christmas
all alone
I listen to carols
over the radio
pandemic year
I light the Christmas tree
all alone
the thoughts of all I lost
shadow the evening
Eduard Schmidt-Zorner
early midwinter sunset
puts grey cloth over the day
full moon silvering the field
we wait with expectation
for the winter solstice
northern lights flutter
old mystery in the sky
black crows cry from afar
memories cling to the walls
Yuletide gathering with friends
Joy McCall
bare winter trees
snow-covered boulders
my Inuit friend
lost in the tracks
of a wild coyote
the Christingle service
the old church
filled with candlelight
I hear my mother singing
'this little light of mine ...'
over two thousand years
since Jupiter and Saturn
danced so close
the Magi saw one bright star
shining on Bethlehem
Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo
tattered clothes
and mismatched slippers
children singing
a mashup mondegreen
of christmas carols and jingles
simbang gabi:
church mass at dawn
with Filipinos
half-awake half-hungry
for bibingka and puto
Mirela Brăilean
under snow
even the dried plum tree
seem to blossom -
you are looking young
despite your white hair
.
the first snow
covers little by little
the maple leaves -
I still remember my mum
bandaging my skinned knees
Giuliana Ravaglia
Casa di nonna
sull'albero di Natale
i mandarini
luccica il ricordo
d'una infanzia felice
Grandma's house
on the Christmas tree
the tangerines
the memory shines
of a happy childhood
Vigiglia di Natale
shopping frenetico
nell'ora di punta
sul vecchio marciapiede
una ciotola vuota
Christmas Eve..
frenic shopping
in rush hour
on the old sidewalk
an empty bowl
Sul davanzale
una lampada accesa
all'imbrunire
fra le mani nude
raccolgo la speranza
On the windowsill
a lighted lamp
at dusk
between bare hands
I gather hope
Lynda Monahan
among the tall spruce
snow soft on the backs of deer
at the frozen river’s edge
they browse the cranberry bushes
the forest holds its winter hush
Sherry Grant
summertime
a butterfly’s dream
glistens
that white Christmas
I’ll never have
end of year
time again to dust
the trophies
baby birds now have
their own babies
Barbara Anna Gaiardoni
hang a star
on the Christmas tree
keep me away
from the horrors of war
and from our relatives
like the shooting star
that led the three wise men
this white orchid carries
a message of joy
and admiration.
Steve Wilkinson
Christmas Eve
in the shadows
the ghosts
of many pasts
all come out to play
Holly on the door
will it keep away
the misfortune
that walks
behind me
