Christmas 2 Poems

Christmas

There were no rocket boosters then, to confound the night sky,
just unsubtle floodlights, hauled out and in place for the occasion;
their gentle beams firing the majestic spires
and dissipating in the gloom.

And no exotic digital displays, nor laser lights,
but an innovation, a speaker above the hardware store
from which Bing, to a dark and near deserted street - crooned,
and only Rudolph ran strictly to tempo.

But a time it was of innocence and quiet excitement,
when the air was as pure and life as certain
as the cotton wool on the Crib was white.
And when every rooftop and every chimney - unencumbered
were objects of wonder,
and the black laneway - a sanctuary,
and sleep - a nuisance,
and socks hanging in a drab kitchen -
an adventure.
When "Postman's Knock," "Forfeits," and the "Queen of Sheba"
brought joyous laughter.
And voices, adult voices - modulated,
blended with play
and with the texture and fragrance of marzipan.

Cormac
Dec. - 19th February 2001
Revised 28th September 2002

Christmas Shopping
       (A Ditty ?)

I saw a card in a shop today
it almost frightened my brain away.
like a dirty mag, I put it back
but retrieved it again from among the pack.
And there it was for all to see,
the changing face of the Family Tree.
And now that my life is near its end,
the greeting was, "To Mum and Friend."

Cormac
5th January 2001
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© Cormac McCloskey

Note: "Christmas 2 Poems" was first published by me on Windows Live Spaces on 1st December 2005