Competition Entry

I remember when I was small(er)
before Christmas,
there would be a tingle,
a thrill in my stomach.
Reindeer dancing around inside me.

I miss that.

I’m only 12,
but already the holiday thrill
has vanished.
I still feel excited.
I still squeal.
I still jump.
I still can’t fall asleep in anticipation.
But I don’t feel the thrill
of pure unfiltered
jubilation or
glee or
ecstasy.

I love the holidays.
Winter is my second-favourite season.
But something has changed.
And so now, even as I
feel excited
squeal
jump
struggle to sleep
there is a light dusting of melancholy
because I miss the
bright, childish excitement I used to feel.

I wish
that I could have
slowed down the passing years,
but there is no settings bar for life.
You can’t change the playback speed.

So, today it snowed.
And December is only a few months away.
This Christmas I am going to take all
of my glee and excitement,
store it in a little jar,
and hold on to for the rest of the year.

I think it will help.

Its Christmas time!
So laugh and jolly up all the way.
For it’s Christmas time,
Haven’t you heard?
It’s the season of holly and mistletoe,
Cookies and milk.

Presents and stocking filled up to the brim with all sorts
But as you slip open the red bow,
You look outside the window
A boy younger than the number of fingers on your hands
Sitting with numb toes.

Besides him his mother, pale and sick
It is Christmas time,
But not for everyone.

As the rich get richer
the poor huddle up for body warmth
so their own loved ones don’t die in their hands
because they weren’t able to afford a hospital visit.

But it’s Christmas time, haven’t you heard?
Santa is on his way,
But can Santa save the world today?
Will he be able to save the kids who can’t run from the pain?

So, whilst its Christmas time, and we’ve all heard,
Think about the ones who whimper in the corners of alleyways
with noses as red as Rudolph’s
Because they were failed by people
who rule our world in this day and age.

Smiles (for my family)
Breaths (for my community)
Heartbeats (for my country)
Poppies (for the world)
Muscle (for me)

As the snowflakes fall
You know what’s coming
The time to put away the bat and ball
A time for blankets, jumpers and all things warm
The festive season is here
‘Tis a harsh time for many people every year
And so a jolly feeling does not hurt
As the snowflakes fall
You know what’s coming
The time to get out the wrapping paper and pull out the presents
The city is buzzing
With joy and excitement,
The jolly season has arrived
As the snowflakes fall
You know what’s coming
Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
The most important things far and above
You hear the bells ringing
Carollers singing
The jolly red sleigh bringing
As the snowflakes fall
You know what’s coming

The tower of light
Standing strong
Standing there
The star on the top
In the air
Glowing nice and bright
So high, it’s just in sight
Leaves as green as grass
Wait for a red suit to pass
Glowing like the sun
Christmas has begun
Everything tastes like gingerbread
There is not a bad word to be said
The cookies and milk have been scoffed
The tree feels soft
There’s the sound of bells, then a whoosh in the air
Then we hear a voice –
“Rudolph! There is no time to spare!”
Smelling the pine crisp air
Standing strong
Standing there
Is the beautiful tower of light

When winter’s breath blew soft and slow,

And rooftops slept in sheets of snow

The heart within a humble home

Glowed bright beneath the starry dome.

The pine trees danced in frost’s embrace,

Each branch adorned in silk and lace

And carollers sang with voices bold

Spinning tales of days of old.

The village rang with carol tunes,

Beneath the frost and silver moon.

Young hearts pressed noses to the glass

To watch the magic moment pass.

Then a child began to sing,

A song of hope and everything.

The elders smiled with quiet pride,

As tears and memories softly cried.

So let this season fill your soul,

Like stories told from ages old.

For Christmas lives not in the gold,

But in the heart where warmth takes hold.

The Christmas Day
Full of joy
Kids playing with their new toys
The parents filming, full of laughter
Seeing family soon after
Snowballs being thrown
Love is being shown
The room full of chatter
People pulling crackers
The wrapping getting ripped
The presents getting shipped
Christmas is a day for Santa to show ’em
Don’t be scared to end this poem.

I’ve got a red crayon to mark the dates in the calendar
I’ll count all the sleeps, till Christmas day is here
I wish for happy times ahead
to my most favourite day of the year!
The lights will twinkle,
the cookies will smell so sweet,
Santa will merrily arrive to taste the best ever treat.
I drew a list of presents, with pencils, red and green
I tried for a good handwriting,
the neatest ever, Santa has seen!

I strum Jingle Bell on my guitar to please my mum
She loves the song so much, and together we hum.
I can’t wait for that morning when magic fills the air
I wake up and run to the tree, for surprises waiting there!
But for now, let me keep on counting every twinkly Christmas light,
and dream of a fairy Santa when I fall asleep each night.

Christmas is special
How it is!
Reindeer are one of the special things,
Icicles are another
Santa coming down your chimney
Trying to make your presents bigly
Merry Christmas one and all
As snow falls outside the walls
Santa is coming!

There is a story I think you should know
for it happened on Christmas Day a long time ago.
There were shepherds watching their flock by night
and lo, there was a burst of light.
An angel came unto them and said:
Do not be alarmed for Jesus Christ the Messiah is in a nearby barn.
The light vanished into thin air
and the angel the shepherds knew not where,
But they did not care for they ran to the stable
and looked into what seems like a feeding table
And saw Jesus Christ the Messiah laying there.