POEMS - With Tongue In Cheek

[keithgood838]

Thank you Eman and Robert; I hope the adaptation will re-acquaint
forum members with Matt's exquisite rendition of I Am, which is featured
on The Ultimate Matt Monro, arguably his finest CD after his Hoagy Carmichael
compilation. May I take this opportunity to wish you both, and all of my forum
friends, a very felicitous Christmas.

MIDWINTER MAKEOVER

Christmas imbues the world with an aura
of celestial-sent beneficence
when giving takes centre stage for a
while, bestowing joy on the audience.
Making a sunrise vision of each face,
and our winter-bound world a brighter place.

Keith Good

[ROBERT M.]

I reciprocate your good Christmas wishes Keith

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thank you for your good wishes Keith and we hope you have a lovely Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
Thank you for all the jokes and poems that you post here. All much appreciated.

[keithgood838]

Thank you Robert, and thanks also to Lena & Harry;
I'm flattered that you enjoy my rambling posts. Here's
another example:

DID YOU KNOW?

In ancient times when man would
to his cruel nature succumb,
a law was passed allowing him
to beat his wife with a stick
no bigger than his digit -
hence 'the rule of thumb'.

Tightening-ropes secured his mattress
to his bed, making it firm for sleeping -
hence, 'goodnight, sleep tight'.

May the ancient Horae have
deemed that he forfeit
any claim to a sound sleep right.

Keith Good

[keithgood838]

I trust the following with strike a chord
with this music orientated forum:

MINSTRELS

The minstrels played their Christmas tune
Tonight beneath my cottage eaves;
While, smitten by a lofty moon,
The encircling laurels, thick with with leaves,
Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen
That overpowered their natural sheen.

Through hill and valley every breeze
Had sunk to rest with folded wings:
Keen was the air, but could not freeze,
Nor check, the music of the strings;
So stout and hardy were the band
That thrummed the chords with strenuous hand.

And who but listened? Till was paid
Respect to every inmate's claim,
The greeting given, the music played
In honour of each household name,
Duly pronounced with lusty call,
And "Merry Christmas" wished to all..

William Wordsworth
(1770-1850)

[ROBERT M.]

[keithgood838]

Here's one for the kids, Robert; extracts therefrom:

THE BOY WHO LAUGHED AT SANTA CLAUS

In Baltimore there lived a boy.
He wasn't anybody's joy.
Although his name was Jabez Dawes,
His character was full of flaws.

In school he never led his classes,
He hid old ladies' reading glasses,
His mouth was open when he chewed,
And elbows to the table glued.
He stole the milk of hungry kittens,
And walked through door marked 'no admittance'.
He said he acted thus because
There wasn't any Santa Claus.

Like whooping cough, from child to child,
He sped to spread the rumour wild:
'Sure as my name is Jabez Dawes
There isn't any Santa Claus!'
Slunk like a weasel of a marten
Through nursery and kindergarten,
Whispering low to every tot,
'There isn't any, no there's not!'

He sprawled on his untidy bed,
Fresh malice dancing in his head,
When presently with scalp a-tingling,
Jabez heard a distant jingling:
He heard the crunch of sleigh and hoof
Crisply alighting on the roof.
What good to rise and bar the door?
A shower of soot was on the floor.

What was beheld by Jabez Dawes?
The fireplace full of Santa Claus!
Then Jabez fell upon his knees
With cries of 'Don't,' and 'Pretty please.'
He howled, 'I don't know where you read it,
But anyhow I never said it!'
'Jabez,' replied the angry saint,
'It isn't I, it's you that ain't.
Although there is a Santa Claus,
There isn't any Jabez Dawes!'

Said Jabez then with impudent vim,
'Oh yes there is, and I am him!
Your magic don't scare me, it doesn't.'
And suddenly he found he wasn't!
From grimy feet to grimy locks,
Jabez became a Jack-in-the-box,
An ugly toy with springs unsprung,
Forever sticking out his tongue.

The neighbours heard his mournful squeal;
They searched for him, but not with zeal.
No trace was found of Jabez Dawes,
which led to thunderous applause,
And people drank a loving cup
And went and hung their stockings up.

All you who sneer at Santa Claus,
Beware the fate of Jabez Dawes,
The saucy boy who mocked the saint.
Donner and Blitzen licked off his paint.

Ogden Nash
(1902-1971)

[Marian]

Good one Keith. I hadn't heard it before.
Did you know that the space station will be visible for several minutes over the U.K. on Christmas Eve just before 6p.m. The kids might just see Santa Claus in his sleigh, spread the magic!

[Eman]

Nice selection of Christmas magic poems Keith love it!!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Always nice to see Christmas poems unfamiliar to us too. Thanks Keith.

[keithgood838]

Glad to oblige Eman and L&H. Marian, I'll pass on that important
Christmas Eve info to granddaughter Roseanna, age 7, thanks.

CHRISTMAS CAROL

The kings they came from out the south,
All dressed in ermine fine;
They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,
And gifts of precious wine.

The shepherds came from out the north,
Their coats were brown and old;
They brought Him little new-born lambs -
They had not any gold.

The wise men came from out the east,
And they were wrapped in white;
The star that led them all the way
Did glorify the night.

The angels came from heaven high,
And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
The host of heaven sings.

The kings they knocked upon the door,
The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
To hear the song begin.

The angels sang through all the night
Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
Before the song was done.

Sara Teasdale
(1884-1933)

[Marian]

Another nice one Keith. Chrysoprase?

[keithgood838]

CHRYSOPRASE

This is the best description I can muster:
light-green variety of Chalcedony
(exquisite mineral, translucent of waxy lustre)
puts one in mind of a leek;
prason is the beautiful Welsh-favoured plant
compared appropriately in Greek.
Yet another of Earth's bountiful bejewelled things:
surely a suitable gift for the King of kings.

[Marian]

Thank you for the explanation Keith. Something like Jade came to mind.

[keithgood838]

CHRISTMAS DAY HAS COME ...

Christmas Day is come; let's all prepare for mirth,
Which fills the heavens and Earth at this amazing birth.
Through both, the joyous angels in strife and hurry fly
With glory and hosannas - 'All holy' they do cry.
In heaven the Church Triumphant adores with all her choirs,
The militant on Earth with humble faith admires.

But why should we rejoice? Should we not rather mourn
To see the hope of nations thus in a stable born?
Where are His crown and sceptre, where is His throne sublime,
Where is his train majestic, that should the stars outshine?
Is there not sumptuous palace, nor any inn at all,
To lodge his heavenly mother but in a filthy stall?

Luke Wadding
(1588-1657)