Artwork by Ann Baratashvili
This Christmas...
All merry and all bright
You don't have to force festive cheer
If you don't feel alright
No, you're not obligated
To be jovial and jolly
To string the lights and sing the songs
Or deck the halls with holly
Perhaps you're missing someone
And perhaps they miss you too
Perhaps you're feeling burdened
By how much you have to do
Perhaps the bleak mid winter
Leaves you feeling rather cold
Perhaps it's hard to drive
December's darkness from your soul
Perhaps you'd rather hibernate,
Let Christmas pass you by
But remember; it's not long ‘til you
Can bid this year goodbye
For now, don't paint a smile
Upon your teary, tired face
Instead, find quiet moments
Where this season gives you space
And recognise that songs
And decorations cannot hide
The flurry of emotions
Overwhelming you inside
Yes, find those little moments
Where the lights don't feel so bright
Where you don't have to keep pretending
Just to be polite
Where you can breathe in peacefully
Away from all the noise
Away from expectation
That you're full of festive joys
‘Cause when the day is over
And the lights are taken down
When it’s another year
Before next Christmas rolls around
Yes, when the joy is fading
And the merriment has ceased
You’ll be so very grateful for
Those pocketfuls of peace
Becky Hemsley 2023
Beautiful picture and poem, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has a habit at this time of year of saying "are you ready for Christmas" as if it expected that you should be or even want to be. It feels like it is some kind of competition now to be ahead of the game and puts more pressure on everyone. I don't ever remember my mum having today's pressures upon her. Christmas felt so much more relaxed back in the day, she would never have been wondering if she was ahead of her neighbour.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem speaks volumes of how Christmas has become more fraught than peaceful.
Thank you for sharing this poem-I needed to read it today. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThis mornings event was cancelled. So i am still in bed with a cuppa, reading. And its gone 9am . A lively, relaxed time - unexpected but greatly appreciated
ReplyDeleteOops, lovely, not lively!!!
ReplyDeleteSue you always post such profound poems and this one really hit home. I completely agree with “where the journey takes me 2”. In my younger years people were far more joyful around Christmas, less money but more relaxed and joyful. There have been many Christmases when I could have related so much to this poem. Exhausted, harassed, sad, spreading myself too thinly but still putting on the “face”. As I got older and looked back on those times I realise I didn’t have the courage to say no, that’s all changed! With age comes the wisdom and confidence to self care. Thanks for posting, I am so very grateful. June xx
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem. After Dancer died last week, daughter lost her enthusiasm to decorate the Christmas tree she put up. I added the lights, but, daughter doesn't feel up to decorating. This might be the year when we don't decorate.
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely poem, and so very true. I wish everyone the kind of Christmas they would like it to be.
ReplyDeleteAngie
I love that poem and it sums things up so well. A quiet Christmas just the two of us and a chat to the family in OZ. We have everything we need for a nice Christmas plus the added bonus there is still money in the tin thanks to following your blog. We have made some good savings this year. Thank you.
ReplyDelete