Saturday, November 28, 2015

Happy Holidays!

 

Dear Blog Readers,

This time of year is usually hectic for many of us (today is my birthday, tomorrow is the first day of Advent, there's holiday shopping to do, cards to send, gifts to wrap, and the usual writing deadlines to meet). With seasonal busy-ness and commitments in mind, I take a brief hiatus most years during December. If you find yourself wishing you had a prompt or two, please look through the archives and, hopefully, you'll find some old prompts that work for you. Along with that, here's a list of potential sources of inspiration that might be helpful:

1. A special holiday gift you've received.
2  A special holiday season memory.
3. A person you associate with Christmases or Hanukkahs past.  
4. A favorite holiday season song (rewrite the lyrics).
5. A gift you'd like to receive (your Christmas wish list, or a letter to Santa).
6. Your favorite holiday food or drink.
7. Winter birds.
8. Snow.
9. A holiday memory about a cherished pet.
10. Special holiday traditions.


 Regular weekly posts will resume on Saturday, January 2, 2016.

I wish you all a holiday season filled with good health, light, joy, and peace!


23 comments:

  1. I looked for your post earlier today (as I do every Saturday) and wondered why you hadn't posted yet. Your birthday explains it! I hope you're having a lovely day and that the coming year brings you every happiness!

    You're so right about this being a very busy time of year. Enjoy the season!

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    1. I forgot to say what an adorable picture of your little Chaucer!

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    2. Thanks so much, Jamie! Enjoy the holiday season!

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  2. Happy birthday, Adele!

    As much as I love teaching (as you obviously love writing your blog), I'm looking forward to winter "vacation" too. Enjoy every minute!

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  3. The very best birthday wishes to you, Dear Adele.

    Thank you for taking time out each week to write your blog that is always educational, inspirational, encouraging and most of all, fun. Have a great holiday season. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Lewis! I wish you all the brightness and blessings of this wonderful season.

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  4. Amita Jayaraman (Mumbai)November 29, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    Wishing you a very happy and slightly belated birthday! With warm wishes for a happy holiday season.

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    1. Thank you so much, Amita! I wish you a happy holiday season too!

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  5. Snow


    Flashback. Through a London window, I see

    The skylark over Victoria Park —

    Snow droplets rest on the naked body

    Of a woman by the ornamental

    Fountain and the primrose — frozen, splattered

    With blood. Stark — death in the sun's golden rise.

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    1. Wonderful, Lewis! Such contrasting images, and so concisely written! Bravo!

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  6. Happy belated birthday, Adele! Thanks for suggesting that we look through your archives -- this is a great time to do that (in between buying gifts, wrapping gifts, writing out and sending cards, and celebrating)!

    Happy holidays!

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  7. Winter Bird


    The snow bunting winter bird her breast of

    snow-like plumage on the moor everywhere

    white as snowfall over evergreen leaves

    and purple bell-shaped flowers of heather

    that seem cold as the mountains on the moon.

    ~ ~ ~

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  8. I love the idea of writing about a favorite holiday food (#6) -- my poem this weekend is about brisket and potato latkes. Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate it!

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment, Cheryl! Happy Hanukkah to you and your family!

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  9. A Holiday Memory of a Cherished Pet


    From the flowerbed perfumed of winter roses

    the cat, and over rooftops of terraced houses

    the flight and rhythms of songbirds surprised like the bride

    caught under hand-falls of confetti from sky pink

    and blue as the snowdrops fall at the window where

    now the cat on the sill looks on as the children

    in the garden build a snowman for Christmas Day.

    ~ ~ ~

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    1. I love the image of the cat watching from the windowsill as the children build a snowman. I can almost feel the cold, hear the birds, and see the children in the garden! Thanks so much for sharing!

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    2. Very nice, Lewis!

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  10. Máire Ó Cathail (Ireland)December 11, 2015 at 11:36 AM

    Wishing you a happy Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year, Adele.I don't always comment, but I still visit your blog regularly and always enjoy the prompts and comments.

    Lewis Oakwood -- it's lovely of you to share your poems each week.

    Risa Roberts -- I always find deep meaning in your poems of few words.

    I've also enjoyed the guest bloggers -- my thanks to all of them!

    Happy holidays!

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Maire! I hope you had a very happy Christmas and that the New Year brings you good health and much happiness!

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