July 12, 2010

Christmas in July??


The weather last Thursday was gorgeous: dapple-gray skies and intermittent episodes of chilly rain. Am I morbid to call it 'gorgeous'- no ... rather, and I've maintained this thought since before I can remember, there's a mystical element to this kind of weather that's utterly inviting. The ethereal aroma of wet earth and the vision of florescent greenery draped in an almost imperceptible mist is of so high an aesthetic value to me that I'm willing to call it heaven. Believe me, this is no exaggeration.

That particular day also stirred up within me thoughts of Christmas and her snow-clad months; her red and green colors filled my soul with the excitement of a child on her very Eve; and every classic Christmas song ever sung, every hymn ever written, seemed somehow ever present. In short, last Thursday's weather brought about an intense reflective appreciation for Christmas.

The poem below pertains to that day and the feelings that that day inspired. Hope you enjoy, and have a holly jolly July!


Composed in July of 2010

I hear her Winter voice abroad,
Her Noël and her songs to God,
Ringing in my ear.
And though July is ever dear,
And humid Summer suns are here,
Christmas fills the quad.

She fills me with a jubilee,
With lovely thoughts of Deity,
All throughout the year.
And when her days of Yule are near
I lift the tankard high in cheer:
Blesséd Lord are thee.

-jwm


Of the Poem (Parameters):

Stanza: Sestet
Meter: Lines 1,2,4 and 5 have an eight syllable count; while lines 3 and 6 consists of five
Rhyme Scheme: a.a.b.b.b.a (per stanza)

As a side note, and in the middle of July mind you, I played Christmas music on Pandora all day at work ... it was awesome!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE it!

I hold fast to my opinion that those poems from your own heart & experience are my most favorite of all.

la'bri-ut yadid sheli

cheryl said...

Another gorgeous poem. I love the use of the feminine pronoun. Everything is an 'it' these days.

there's a mystical element to this kind of weather that's utterly inviting. The ethereal aroma of wet earth and the vision of florescent greenery draped in an almost imperceptible mist is of so high an aesthetic value to me that I'm willing to call it heaven. Believe me, this is no exaggeration.

You too?! One of my favorite things to do on a foggy morning is to go out and snap pictures or record a video.

I feel so close to God during those times, I almost except to see angels.

John W. May said...

Thank you so much ladies. The truth of the matter is that I've been listening to Christmas music all week ... I even sat pool side- in the boiling sun- listening to the Carol of the Bells.

Needless to say, I love Christmas- it reminds me of Christ.

Aleksis said...

I loved that opening prose. There's a lot of vision. So much mystery is in the grey.

Christine Natale said...

Wonderful poem John and a shared feeling!!

The Poets

As of April 9th, 2010