Wreathed in Light
(Picks up where Deck the Mountain’s Halls left off)
“Wait!” Ran cried, his need to complete things
taking charge, “the wreath! It needs one more light.”
One spot left on the e’er green, Advent ring;
one dark place that needed to be made bright.
Then the fairies’ spell could begin, Advent’s
end with it bring; the waiting’s done and soon
celebrations will ring with song, presents
‘neath the tree and laughter, the season’s boon.
To move things along, Ran hurried to fetch
Nolo, his son Nerule, Inari, his
wife, Uncle Miren, Papa who catches
him in a hug, gathering them all ’round
the wreath one last time, where the spirit’s found.
~ ~ ~
Here at last the true spirit of Christmas
is found, however, those fairies still miffed
at the interruption to their Christmas
plan, turned their backs, giving the wreath short shrift.
Nolo tugged on his collar; aware now
at the season’s looming end, that he’d spent
Advent working, sparing almost no down
time for him or his family and that lent
this Sunday a somber feel, ‘cept for Ran,
of course, that poor child could not stop smiling.
What did he have to smile about? No clan
to protect him, no normal upbringing,
no toys save a stuffed bear and no real home.
Yet Christmas had, in his smile, found a home.
~ ~ ~
In that child’s innocent smile, Nolo found
Christmases past, full of bright candle glow,
laughter and song; not pine boughs they danced round
but palm fronds, draped in beaded fringe; no snow
down south in Bantu Land, just sand and surf,
thick jungle sprawl, mango and coconut
puddings and always song marking their turf.
No glowing stones, but candles, coconut
scented, and he’d drift breathing it all in
dreaming of a land called Shayari far
to the north, a land steeped in myth within
magically erected walls, a place far
from the ruin, the massacre, the screams–
but that bloody night still echoes in dreams.
~ ~ ~
Nolo cleared his throat; they’d gathered to pray,
and he had things to say, “O Lord, stir Thy
power and come, help us with grace, we pray.”
The next lines sprang to mind and stayed there; may Thy
merciful forgiveness hasten what sins
impede, but he kept that last part ‘tween God
and he, where belongs grave matters like sins.
To candles of childhood, he gave a nod.
To Shayari’s magic held ban on fire,
he lifted the last lumir stone; it bathed
them all in purple light more constant than fire.
He set that last stone with the other three.
Fairies danced with glee, now Christmas could be!
~ ~ ~
The story continues in Sleigh Ride.
Follow Sarn’s Christmas Journey
(Worried about missing a piece of the holiday mayhem? Worry not fair reader. The fairies are arranging a special eBook to help.)
(and there are circles…)
I love the build-up of excitement and look forward to the next installment, which is waiting to be read 😀
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Thank you 🙂 actually the next installment will come tomorrow. Today’s piece is out of sequence. I tried to do the whole thing in order but my imagination doesn’t work that way.
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Yes, I noticed the other was our of sequence 😀
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I tried to keep things sequential but the muse has no concept of time. 🙂 we’re back in sequence with Sleigh Ride. 🙂
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😀 I hear you
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😀 I like order but I am seldom able to achieve it in reality. 😉
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Many of us start out with this intention but always fall short 🙂
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I am in good company then. 🙂 The narrative continues in logical sequence now. I don’t think there will be any more digressions
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😀 😀
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actually, maybe I will publish the next one in the sequence. I have plenty of story for the rest of the week! maybe today will be a two for.
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🙂 good idea!
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I did publish it. It’s called Sleigh Ride. The fairies threatened to mutiny of I delayed another day. 😉
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ah, will go read it 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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You are welcome! 🙂
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🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you 🙂 more to come. The series continues
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😊
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I copied this and sent to my phone so I could reread this on my way home tonight on the bus. You are really a gifted writer!! Even if I have not read the previous poems/stories, this stands on its own…the two last stanzas moved me so much, I could read them over and over. You have touched the true spirit of Christmas…
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Thank you. Your comment means a lot to me. More to come 🙂
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I feel bad that I don
t always have time to visit...Carpe Diem Haiku Kai has been my daily ritual for two years plus other prompts andnow I
m lucky if I do a 1/4. But you are correct all I did was work and write, read…little sleep and never had time to go out. I am contemplating editing poems and flash fictions to combine them into a book. A work in progress.LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a good idea. I am editing my work for publication as well especially this Christmas sequence and the books they are based on. I do as you do, read, write, work and go out when I can schedule that in (meaning when I can afford it). Visit when you can. My story-poems will be here when you come.
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🙂 sounds like a plan
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🙂
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Such a pretty Christmas poem! It put me in the Christmas mood. 🙂
I just thought I’d stop by and let you know that I’ve nominated you for a loyalty award. https://invisibleworldd.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/dragons-loyalty-award/
Thanks for being such a great supporter. 🙂
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Thank you, it’s part of an ongoing storyline; I have been adding to it since Advent began and will continue it through Christmas. Check out previous poetic episodes here: https://melindakucsera.com/poetic-holidays/
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They’re finally heading towards happiness and at the perfect season! I like your rhyming scheme!
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Thank you! Tomorrow the fairies get their way and what fun they have planned! Maybe they’ll finally get Christmas right. 😉 we’ll see.
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🙂
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