Santa baby & 3 more haiku

 

from Life’s Rhythms 

(a collection of 365 haiku, published April 2012)

 

 

“Dear Santa, I’m good,

so where were my gifts this year?”

The sighing boy frowns.

 

 

Santa speeds over

chimney tops, reindeer bemused –

he’s kept all the gifts!

 

 

Glass ball holds a scene

of snowman, hill, tree and ice.

Shaken, the snow flakes.

 

 

The unopened gift

sits beneath the tree, waiting

for excited hands.

 

 

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, April 2012

 

 

In the YouTube series of me reciting my poems, here I am reading out these ones. The video goes live at 6pm UK time. Thanks to Graham Fraser for organising this YouTube series. Cheers :)

 

Boxing Day poem: Christmas

 

Christmas

from Mind-spinning Rainbows 

(a collection of 154 poems, published April 2015)

 

It approaches, this night, as a phantom roar,

blessing me with a silver starlit sky so clear.

From the sanctitude of my den I watch

delicate patterns of purest snow unfold –

they scatter on the blowing wind that wails,

dancing and swirling on these wintry gales.

 

Quick flash of red vest tells me he’s arrived,

my robin, hopping between paving stones,

flicking the sodden leaves, pecking sticks,

before he spies the milky bread I’ve gifted him.

Glancing up quickly, he moves so sprightly,

fearful lest he take his freedom too lightly.

 

I draw the shawl closer about my shoulders,

snug by the fire where the embers glow.

In these quiet moments I treasure my days,

however short they may seem to be now –

simple pleasures come to warm my heart

for they are mine to enjoy before we part.

 

A handful of cards stare down from the mantel

amid glistening streams of purple-red tinsel.

The mirror bewitches, offering to tell a fortune

to this one whose beauty paled so long ago –

as though waking, the clock strikes twice,

sounding echoes in the memories of my life.

 

I stand by the window while the cat warms my chair,

waiting for the doorbell and the children’s cheers

that will mark the arrival of my dearest kin.

I welcome Christmas that comes but once a year,

for its merriness makes me forget all my woes,

warming me from my fingertips down to my toes.

 

Copyright Vickie Johnstone

 

 

In the YouTube series of me reciting my poems, here I am reading out this one. The video goes live at 6pm UK time. Thanks to Graham Fraser for organising this YouTube series. Happy Boxing Day :)

 

A Poem a Day (336): Santa loves his silver sleigh

 

Merry Christmas everyone. Here's a Christmas poem for you. I hope you have a lovely day. Best wishes to you! x

 

Santa loves his silver sleigh

 

Santa comes but once a year,

his belt isn’t made of leather,

and every time he combs his beard

the hairs tumble out like feathers.

 

Rudolph is his favourite reindeer

because he’s just really clever.

He’s good at games and tests and stuff,

and he’ll go ride in any weather.

 

Santa’s big love is his silver sleigh.

He likes to polish it night and day,

and go for joyrides once a week,

waving at Earth and the Milky Way.

 

Mrs Claus cooks the most wondrous pies.

Of this, Santa’s round belly is the proof.

She also mulls a wintry clove brew

that even Rudolph loves – that’s the truth!

 

The elves have wrapped all the gifts now,

the fairies have bathed them in magic dust,

so it’s time for Santa to rev up the sleigh:

“Rudolph, come on! It’s the British Isles or bust!”

 

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 22, 2020

 

 

In the YouTube series of me reciting my poems, here I am reading out this poem. It goes live at 6pm UK time. Thanks to Graham Fraser for organising this YouTube series. Cheers :)