If ever there was a time to categorise large and small, the haves and have nots, and the massive differences between being warm and glutinous and the homeless, it is Christmas. Oh dear, best beware now then for as Grey said, “poets have thoughts that breath and words that burn”, thus some may wish to turn away, but certainly none of you wonderful readers, of that I’m sure?
Yes good Old Happy Christmas! The families, fun, frolics, food pig outs, festivities, flatulence and then as opposite the lonely, cold or starving, or perhaps all three? Well we won’t consider all that now too much as it can really deflate the merry festive atmosphere you know.
Obviously there have always been the poor cold and starving, but perhaps loneliness is a quite new phenomenon? People and families now geographically spread out and all that, and oh, the fall outs, feuds and jealousy too. Yes they must be the reasons or explanations, but are they?
Anyway just who is this guy? Spoiling our festive fun and mood, posing unwanted thoughts and ideas, It may even encourage people to stop reading, but actually just WHO is he?
“He” might not even be a person, nor one of Dickens ghosts, possibly one of those tiresome television adverts that beam suffering into our living rooms to raid our thoughts, well ho, ho, ho they might if we ever watched and listened, and we can also choose to turn off if they get particularly irritating and upset the jolly fun!
So no, this guy or “thing” is something different. It’s an awareness, yes awareness, because you, we, and everybody know about “those others”, but hey, who cares? Especially at this time of the year for fun.
From my first book, Poetic Views of Life, comes “Crowded Out”…….
Crowded Out
Can a tree in a forest be lonely
Or a wave crest on the sea?
So if surrounded by people
How can loneliness possibly be?
When you look at peoples faces
For a smile or glint of an eye,
Everyone seems to be moving
And like spectres just pass by.
The fish in the ocean have shoals
And the bees will build their hive,
But many people live in surroundings
Where no one knows they’re alive.
So maybe we should reach out
With more effort to connect,
To try and prevent isolation
That even stout hearts will deject.
No person wants their passing
To go off with barely a squeak,
With people saying they saw them
But never found time to speak!
–
So there is another bit of a loneliness theme to think of, or not if too contradicting with your fun at this time then, for there are other considerations to ponder if the subject comes up. From my new and latest book “Poet Reveals All” comes a simply titled, but reflective poem “Relative”.
Relative
Our worries and problems in life
Can really bring us down,
But what for us seems massive
To others it won’t cause a frown,
For they have more titanic battles
Which need fighting every day.
Mostly to just get those basics
That easily come our way.
Like the man calling out as I pass
For the price of a cup of tea,
Making me wonder on looking round
Is he really different from me?
Maybe he’s dressed in similar clothes
And hugs his can of strong beer,
But surely we have similar worries
When life’s troubles come near.
For this day I felt quite annoyed
About my central heating playing up,
Then wondered if he even had a place
And refuge, to sit with his cup,
Of tea or coffee, that we all agree
Can revive and fortify us anew.
For if you are homeless and alone
Many hardships are facing you.
But look how early he is drinking,
I hear the cold cynics mutter.
I know that, but if you have nothing,
Perhaps it’s some comfort in the gutter.
For maybe he was in our armed forces
Once proud, but can no longer try.
So I’m grateful of my relative fortune,
As but for the grace of god, go I.
–
Hey we are having the lonely and homelessness drip fed into all of this again now, just what is going on to begin to take the gilt and glitter of our Christmas? Just what is going on? What is all this reflection that is both upsetting and intrusive? This blooming awareness, and poems on the lonely and homeless. It is supposed to be Christmas, a time to be happy and over indulge, laugh, drink, have a go at that new girl in the sales department. Now she could pull my cracker anytime! No more blooming awareness and woe please.
That is not what the shops, adverts and general hype say that Christmas should be like. Enjoy yourself, spend, eat, drink and generally get into debt screams the propaganda! Well I don’t think the bit about debt is mentioned too much, but will be the outcome in most people’s case probably, but it will all be worth it won’t it!
Mmmmm excuse me but err, it actually might not be worth it. Another poem from my 3rd book suggests otherwise, and without a shadow of doubt poets, with their “licence”, and particularly “me”, must be right?
But naturally you can disagree and believe everything is lovely, and that lonely people, (who must just be sad folks anyway) and homelessness are over stated. Cheers, lets have more drinks then, but what is this now?
Is it Merry Christmas?
Christmas cheer fills the world
All ready for that special day,
Got to have the greatest meal
For the best ever family day.
Smiling faces beam for the photo
All happy sat round the table.
Well mostly smiling, some just trying,
To look as happy as they’re able!
For Christmas isn’t all it seems
Despite your spending and the drinking,
And peace on earth, goodwill to men
Isn’t really what most are thinking!
It all has to be done, put on a show
Make sure the kids presents are the best,
For when they all return to school
Their parents must pass this test.
Not much cheer in the Christmas crush
Battling each other in the shops,
To get all excesses in good time,
You must pull out all the stops.
Or be deprived of those luxuries
The adverts scream you must buy,
So your greatest day stresses soar
No matter just how hard you try.
For Christmas isn’t all it seems
Despite your spending and the drinking,
And peace on earth, goodwill to men
Isn’t really what most are thinking!
Greed mentality takes over dwellings
Cramming supplies up to the walls,
As if to withstand some long siege
This one day battle is made for fools
Who succumb to the media demands,
And empty their banks and cash flow.
So after the fuss and waste is done
It’s not worth seeing your money go.
But I’m no Scrooge or killjoy at all
I like a booze up too, that I mu st say,
Though I really can’t help thinking
How nice if it was Christmas every day.
And not the seasons bloating scene
With It’s pushing and shoving crowd,
Who cannot see that just being nice
All long year round is still allowed!
–
Now that poem is suggesting that a lot of this fantastic time of enjoyment is all fake and will cost a small fortune that isn’t worth it. This awareness lark is beginning to become a bore, so perhaps best to ignore it all completely!
So noting other thoughts, the large and small ends of life’s scale are very much different then, though of course we all get what we deserve in life don’t we? And now all this awareness and worry is gettingg aggravating so best ignore it!
Why are all new thoughts going round then, coming and going, making unpleasant suggestions and accusations? What is this all about, and why? Awareness has just been banished!
Maybe it is something else then, a milk of human kindness, which sounds quite nice and much, much nicer than the blind indifference of just over eating and drinking…..
From my fourth book “Life Scene in Verse” is a poem called “Ghost”
Ghost
I have my own personal ghost,
You can’t see him but he’s there.
When I’m alone I talk to him
And so my existence I will share.
We discuss things when life’s difficult
And I don’t know what to do.
I am not too sure if he does talk back
But It’s like another persons view,
On what to do, or what to say,
Or maybe how best to proceed.
So I get an inner confidence
And my echoes advice I heed.
This ghost of mine is real to me
And he even has a name,
Though it’s probably no great surprise
That his and mine are the same,
For when talking I will use it
As I would address a human friend,
Knowing my ghost will be around
Until my days come to an end.
So I guess now that I am aware
That It’s my conscience not a ghost,
But to me it doesn’t matter
If having integrity I can boast!
–
Maybe it is a conscience then and not awareness that is nagging away at “Large and Small”, but that is a start, but meanwhile have a great and happy Christmas and New Year, and we can meet up afterwards in January with that extra weight, massive overdraft and possibly a slightly let down feeling, but cheer up. my theme in January is “Nature” again, and with all its beauty, it is bound to inspire!
All six of my books :–
Poetic Views of Life
More Poetic Views of Life
Reviews of Life in Verse &
Life Scene in Verse
Life Presented In Verse,
And NOW my sixth book =
Poet Reveals All (in your world).
These all ensure my donation to the excellent charity I support, promote and donate to, that being Help for Heroes.
My first 3 books are only priced £4.99 each, with my 4th and 5th bigger books at £6.99. My new and sixth book, bigger still is £9.99. and all are for sale on Amazon, book stores or from me ………….. lw1800@hotmail.co.uk Or 07967 355236
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