Bring in a tree, a young Norwegian spruce,
Bring hyacinths that rooted in the cold.
Bring winter jasmine as its buds unfold
Bring the Christmas life into this house.
Bring red and green and gold, bring things that shine,
Bring candlesticks and music, food and wine.
Bring in your memories of Christmas past.
Bring in your tears for all that you have lost.
Bring in the shepherd boy, the ox, the ass,
Bring in the stillness of an icy night,
Bring in a birth, of hope and love and light.
Bring the Christmas life into this house.
The Christmas Life by Wendy Cope
photo by willow
Good morning Willow,
ReplyDeleteAnother super poem, bringing the sights, sounds and joys of Christmas together - thanks.
I didn't know that one of Wendy Cope's. Thanks for introducing it to me.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a gift for capturing the beauty and significance in the silences between the moments of mayhem and fevered activity. It's always a pleasure to spend a few minutes of my day with you. :)
ReplyDeleteThat was lovely.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem. Thanks for introducing me to Wendy Cope. Have a wonderful day. Peace.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wish I could have access to a portal inside your head like in the movie 'Being John Malkovich', dear willow (even if I had to climb up to floor 13 and half). What a lovely poem! And don't you just love the rhythm! It almost leapt off my computer screen at me :-).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this lovely yuletide present.
Greetings from London.
Willow,
ReplyDeleteChristmas changes the house like no other event except maybe the birth of a child.
Wait! That's what Christmas is, isn't it?
;-)
rel
I adore Wendy Cope poems. We used to live in a place called Winchester in the UK county of Hampshire and she was the local poet.
ReplyDeleteHurrah - I managed to leave a comment still in the single figure comment leaver box (if you know what I mean - the more I speak French the more I forget my English grammar)
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteOur oldest daughter is on her way home today and will be home late in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love family at Christmas?
A beautiful poem - for me the lines "Bring in your memories of Christmas past. Bring in your tears for all that you have lost." are especially poignant. Thank you for introducing me to Wendy Cope
ReplyDeleteWhat a cozy atmosphere created by the couch, poetry and Christmas tree...may you and all of your readers have a relaxing and beautiful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHi Willow, I love your blog - I have it on my favorites on mine. The poem is really special. I love the words, "Bring the Christmas life into the house." We almost missed bringing "the Christmas life into our house" until we were inspired by our 5 year old grandson. It's funny that sometimes children are so much more connected to the "real" things in life than we adults are. Take a look at our post The story of the Snow Angel .... and you'll see what I mean. http://www.rescripted.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas! - Kim
Bring in the joy and light and fun to the Manor this holiday. Blessings,suki
ReplyDeletePerfect combination of sentiment and beauty. Thank you.
ReplyDeletewillow, beautiful post - my daughter-in-law went on your blog last night to grab the eggnog recipe for our family get together - about 20 of us gather at an old victorian house at Fort Worden after Christmas for 4 days - we will be toasting with your eggnog drink into the wee hours! - peace and joy to you and yours xxo
ReplyDeleteI wonder if your ghost is lingering in your photo somewhere?
ReplyDeleteThe poem was charming indeed.
Lovely Wendy Cope poem. Have a good Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI have tagged you, in the spirit of Christmas Willow. As one of your lowly readers, I don't expect you to take a look at my blog to find out what this is, but I thought I'd try anyway.
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog to mine though.
Willow, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, xv.
ReplyDeletethe photo almost looks like an angel is standing next to the tree...love the poem...of course, again you have selected the perfect one.
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm and imagery of this poem, and especially the contrasts between warmth and cold, which kind of draws you into it more deeply. Thank you Willow.
ReplyDeleteThank you..great poem.
ReplyDeleteMerry Chrismtas!
Thank you for visiting me in Arcadia! As you can tell I am just learning how to set up a blog and I hope you don't mind my creating a "Currently ..." list..love the idea but will remove it if you just say so!
ReplyDeleteNice words and nice photo. Have a shiny, memorable, ruby, and evergreen Christmas willow.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first Christmas with my new husband who has helped me recapture that illusory, childlike wonder...the wonder and innocence which is easier to grab at as it flies past us during Christmas. I found your blog a few days ago and I love coming here everyday now! You feed that warmth of the heart that, strangely enough, only seems to ignite just as winter begins. I suppose we need it to get us through the cold. The words and colors of your page are like coming home. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWillow, wishing you and your family a very Merry, Merry Christmas. xo
ReplyDeleteWillow you make me all joyful!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas....Love the eggnog!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't checked out my blog today, I thought you'd be interested in my Christmas Dinner idea. Merry Christmas to you and all your house hold. Strider
ReplyDeleteWillow,
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas.
Thank you for the poem and introducing me to Wendy Cope.
Willow, this was a perfect poem for the season.
ReplyDeleteMay your Christmas bring new wonders and delights, and your New Year filled with happiness and good health.
So lovely...Have a very Merry Christmas, dear Willow...
ReplyDeleteHe's got a list, he's checked it twice...A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI always love your glimpses of your lovely home. thanks for sharing the sparkling tree. So festive looking. I will imagone you, you fam, adn Bach and Betsy over there too, come Boxing Day. Do have a toast from me!
ReplyDeleteThanks Willow for such a wonderful year of blogs. As you've been told countless times before, your blog is a visual feast and a refuge from the mundaness life can sometimes offer. I'm s glad I found you adn your blog!
Take care, my blogger friend!
I have just enjoyed writing a blog post about memories of Chrismas past! It is a line of your poem too! Indeed, my daughter and I are very busy ushering Christmas into the house. At the moment we are concentrating on the kitchen! Be blessed!
ReplyDeleteThank you, that was a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteA nice Christmas present to share with us!
Such a simple rewarding request...Merry Christmas to all...
ReplyDeleteLovely .. Happy Holidays to you and everyone in your life!
ReplyDelete:-Daryl
Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteIt has come here already.
Merry thingy Willow!
ReplyDeleteWillow, A very Merry Christmas to you and your family. The poem is lovely and the light of the photo remarkable...Willow Manor looks warm and wonderful. May all your wishes come true!
ReplyDeleteMary Ann
I have never heard of Wendy Cope. Thank you. She speaks to me of home, hyacinths, red and green and gold... the sights and scents of Christmas. How very bittersweet and lovely. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you from a formerly occasional and now regular reader. Beautiful poem! It really conveys the dual nature of the winter holidays -- the co-existence of light/dark, warmth/chill, birth & new life/dormancy and loss, music & mirth/silence, joy/melancholy...
ReplyDelete-- F.
Merry Christmas Willow. I thought I should let you know that Wendy Cope really hates people putting up her poems out of copyright. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/dec/08/featuresreviews.guardianreview14
ReplyDeleteso maybe you should take it down.