Poems for CHRISTMAS *Singing Together* - Tom Billsborough - Bog

The desire for peace and the rebirth of childhood memories feature in many poems in this collection. There are also many expressions of joy, as indulgent parents share the excitement of the day with boisterous children busily unwrapping presents below the Christmas tree. In recalling her visit with her father to the "Wassail Bowl", Marianne Larsen Reninger, brings out in fine detail a beautiful childhood memory. She also gets a plus from me for mentioning my favourite carol, Silent Night! In another fine poem Margaret O'Driscoll expresses the joy of Christmas Night. The contributions come from thirty-one Countries right round the World and the range of ideas and images sparkles like a box of brightly coloured jewels. I think each contributor has important things to say about Christmas and there is much to admire in the contrasts of styles and the personal views of the season. I can assure everyone each poem has its own sparkle, and hope you will forgive me for indulging in my own personal tastes: sometimes it is a line that catches my eye. Bharati Nayak's line "Light candles of beautiful smiles" moved me. There is also a line in Anitah Muwanguzi's poem "love falls softly hard" History reborn and given a new name.. Sometimes a whole poem enchants me as Valsa George's "A Christmas Song", Karen Edwards' "Sacred Season" and Judith Blatherwick's "The Christmas Flight". Humour is an essential ingredient of Christmas. Pamela Sinicrope made me laugh with her line "as the kids look on in horror" referring to parents' dancing! In any event it is the solemn duty of parents to embarrass their offspring on these festive occasions. Most remarkable is Stephen's poem: the two lines which really creased me with laughter were: "The girls start to smooth their skirts / To hide their forked tails." Often Christmas takes a great deal of worthwhile preparation. This is perhaps exemplified best by Barry Middleton in his excellent poem, "Cedar Tree Christmas". That "joy is something to be earned" as he and his friends did in obtaining their "priceless Christmas tree." Of course, for some Christmas can be a time of sadness, remembering departed relatives and friends but, even here, there is a determination to enjoy the day for the sake of lost ones. Christmas is a time for reflection and it would be well to remember previous occasions when those who are now missing contributed so much to the family's enjoyment. Read these poems: this is a book to treasure. Enjoy, and I hope that all your special dreams come true. Merry Christmas! (T.Billsborough)