The words below are familiar to us in their carol version. However, in 1872, the lyrics were originally published as poem by Christina Rossetti (a Victorian poet) in the magazine Scribner’s Monthly, after she was asked to write something for Christmas.
I like the last line: what can you give if you have nothing? – [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘Poetry Advent Calendar’
December 23, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 23rd December
December 22, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 22nd December
It’s not quite a poem – but it’s definitely a Christmas classic. Enjoy! (And sing along here)
Fairytale of New York
It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, “won’t see another one”
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
Got on a [...]
December 22, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 21st December
The Ox-and-the-Ass’s Story
We were just about fed-up with dossers and layabouts
Making free, overnight with our stable and our straw –
Some of them plunked themselves down right under our hooves,
Half of them drunk, and twanging their guitars –
Why can’t they cuddle their kids and just keep quiet?
Come to think of it, this particular couple tonight
Did [...]
December 22, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 20th December
The Crib
They are making a crèche at the Saturday morning classes
For the Christmas party: scissors and paper vie
With fingers and plasticine until there are masses
Of sheep and shepherds that kneel and stand and lie,
And cotton-batting angels with cellophane wings
And a golded cardboard star and string to guide it
And pipe-cleaner camels carrying tinfoil kings
And a real [...]
December 19, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 19th December
Although I love classics like Wham’s Last Christmas and Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens, without a doubt my favourite Christmas song is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas when sung by Frank Sinatra. The lyrics are quite poetic I think; and the refrain ‘have yourself a merry little Christmas’ is powerful in its simplicity. [...]
December 18, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 18th December
Carol (to the tune of ‘We Three Kings’)
Came to our Nativity Play
Raggy doll asleep on the hay
Itchy knickers, bogey-pickers,
I’ve got a bit to say.
O, I’m the star as you can tell.
I’ m the Angel Gabriel.
Silver wings and halo thing and
Glittery tights as well.
They two kings of Orient are
Kevin Jones [...]
December 17, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 17th December
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure [...]
December 16, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 16th December
With many thanks to Ann Bonner from BFS International in Banbury for this suggestion.
from Love’s Labours Lost, Act 5, Scene 2
When icicles hang by the wall
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail
And Tom bears logs into the hall
And milk comes frozen home in pail,
When blood is nipp’d and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring [...]
December 15, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 15th December
This weekend I finally made time to bring Christmas into my home. We bought a huge tree (it’s so wide it’s almost obese), festooned every available surface with vast quantities of foliage, and frosted it all with tiny twinkling fairy lights. The house is filled with that peerless Christmas tree smell. And suddenly everything is [...]
December 15, 2008
Poetry Advent Calendar: 14th December
For the lonely hearts out there…
A Christmas Poem
At Christmas little children sing and merry bells jingle,
The cold winter air makes our hands and faces tingle
And happy families go to church and cheerily they mingle
And the whole business is unbelievable dreadful, if you’re single.
Wendy Cope
