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December 16, 2003
Essentials - David Bunch
Holiday Poems
In a society saturated with choices, sometimes it’s nice to
receive some knowledgeable recommendations.
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Poets of all ages have tried
to capture the essence of the winter season and the Christmas holiday in
particular. Here are five poems that are sure to thaw the chill and bring
holiday cheer throughout the Christmas season.
Stopping by Woods on Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
The intellectual’s Sleigh Ride, this one is perfect for pure winter
enjoyment. Frost places the reader in the middle of a winter wonderland by
appealing to the senses with a deft use of descriptive imagery. (So leave the
debate over the darker meanings of this poem to the scholars.) Grab a cup of
java and “watch (the) woods fill up with snow.”
Journey of the Magi
by T.S. Eliot
Eliot looks at the Bethlehem Birth from the perspective of the wise men in this
epic. Besides the fact that there are several allusions to other major events
in the life of Christ, this poem is also important because Eliot proves that
great Christian themes can be treated in an artistic fashion while avoiding the
trite. A great poem to supplement your readings of the Christmas Story.
little tree by e
e cummings
Ever consider what a Christmas tree feels at Christmas time? Cummings does in
this unusual offering by exploring the thoughts of the tree through the eyes of
a child. In the end we have a nostalgic view of Christmas from a child's
perspective, as well as a broader understanding of the special place in the
Christmas tradition that we all occupy.
The Night Before Christmas
by Clement Moore
Okay, let's forget the esoteric Christmas literature for a moment. After all,
no Christmas would be complete without a reading of this immortal poem. Moore
wrote it many years ago as a gift to his children, but it still appeals to the
child in all of us on Christmas Eve. One word of recommendation—this one is
best enjoyed near a crackling fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa nearby.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by William Wadsworth Longfellow
Here is the little
Christmas present that is hiding just beyond the far side of the tree. Although
little known now, Longfellow wrote it during the darkest days of the Civil War.
Later, music was added, and it was not long before it became part of the canon
of carols. Although the poet laments all that is wrong with the world during
what should be a season of love and caring, he ends the poem with the triumphant
declaration that hope still remains. Several decades ago, the Carpenters
recorded the carol during another troublesome period of our nation's history.
If you have to choose only one poem to read this year, make it this one. It
will take you on a nostalgic journey to Christmas past and herald hope for
Christmas future.
ninetyandnine.com
Ó
2003, David Bunch
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As ninetyandnine.com’s
poetry reviewer, David Bunch hopes to spend much of Christmas Eve reading
these and other great poems. | 
