My Christmas Poem, y’all

“I want to know everything about you, so I tell you everything about myself.”

– Amy Hempel

Until I realized that almost no one read it (see recent WSJ article Bring on the Holiday Letters), I used to write and send out a Christmas poem every year, and I (rather) miss* doing it.

So, inspired by the Journal author’s words that holiday letters (for me, poems) have a of “seasonal warmth,” and her reminders that they

“…bring us together in a way that our relentless digital connections cannot…represent tradition in a world that discards traditions too quickly…and they require real effort and thought: Somebody took the time to write them.” (emphasis mine)

…here’s my latest:

The kids are all grown; the house, empty, almost –

No more lunches to make, no more bagels to toast.

They’re all doing their thing; my job raising them’s done –

And for me and my husband, the fun’s just begun.

 

Around les enfants, my world used to revolve.

When ma fille was twelve, I found a nouvelle resolve:

I sat down to write books, and I ceased to write verse

For my “holiday letter” – of it, I would disperse.

 

“Who would miss it?” I thought. Just a relative**  few.

All the others would not; from them, I took my cue.

So I focused my brain on a lofty ambition:

“Why not write a whole novel?” That was my admonition.

 

“You can do it!” I said to myself. “You have time;

For a break, you can always come up with a rhyme.

When you hear and see things, you are constantly thinking:

‘That would be a good scene! Or way, with them, for linking.’

 

“Yes, I know it takes months – sometimes YEARS – but, once finished,

You can start a new project, no right-brain cells diminished.

And then, hopefully, readers will love what you’ve written.

Those at home, and in places like France and Great Britain!”

 

So, not knowing if I would succeed or would fail,

I began to create, it became my travail. 

It’s ‘ton boulot,’ a French friend expressed, when I asked.

(That means ‘job.’) And with that, it’s what I am self-tasked.

 

Au même temps, I chose, fluency, to re-attain

in French, la langue stored somewhere inside of my brain.

I commenced with a course that I’m still taking now

And I’ve risen in level, and at times, I know how

 

To think en français; it occurs more and more

When I don’t think about it – then, my “puzzler” gets sore.

I have much more to learn, and to write. But I’m glad

That two books, I have published, and that they can be had

 

On your tablet or, if you’re old-fashioned, in hand.

You can give them as gifts, put them on your nightstand.

I am writing “Book Three” – it will be out next year;

And to you, I wish holidays full of good cheer! 

 

* I just like to smile write. Smiling’s Writing’s my favorite.

** One relative in particular did…