Christmas Lights

Featured Poem

I had been wondering what poem I should put up this month; the idea of the Christmas Lights poem occurred to me.  Popped into my mind since it is quite a happy little thing and then because end of December would be too late for it.

I was quite surprised when I opened it up with the first line; what I said in December 2020 could be equally true now, ‘This year has been a horrible year’.  This year certainly has, hasn’t it; cost of living, magnification of the immigration row for political ends, was in the Ukraine too.  And greater sleaze in a government than I can remember in the UK for years, and that is saying something.

So the featured poem is here to raise a smile (hopefully).  It is about something tiny, something unimportant, but about something that the reader can easily identify with – the irritation of putting something away safely then forgetting where you put it; I don’t think I’m the only one to do that – or am I?  But actually the poem is also about an attempt to break through the gloom and bring a little joy – both inside the poem and outside it.

So I hope it makes you smile.

Reading

I am moving towards the completion of the Hilary Mantel trilogy about Cromwell.  I have reached the stage where he has a family group of beautifully drawn characters around him.  They are all struggling to be true to King Henry, but you can see how, as Cromwell moves forward, he is making enemies.  Great tension.

Writing

Several things are moving along slowly; some have glimmers of light at the end of tunnels, but I try not to be over-optimistic.

At composer Tom’s suggestion, we have refocused the opening of our music play.  Wrote it last Friday, now leaving it a few days to see if it is strong enough.  Some useful seeds sown which I might help grow by tweaking the later parts of the script.  My collection of poems General Guidance has raised a little interest in some circles, with a transition into a different form on the cards.

Picking up my ‘gloom’ theme above, I recently completed a poem that is more full of freedom and joy than anything I have written recently.  It is in a drawer for a week or two, but I intend to follow up the happiness route a bit more; while always trying to be truthful, it is important to try and be positive too.

I was speaking with my brother recently, bemoaning the state of the UK.  He said that there is little we can do about it.  I agree that we can feel, as individuals, powerless.  But it is important we do whatever little we can – good for the UK and good for us too.

Have an enjoyable and joyous winter breath – Christmas, Yule, Solstice, or other, whichever you prefer.