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Holiday Poetry
We're excited to share the stories that have been submitted for our Holiday edition of the Writes of Winter contest! We received nine submissions:
In Winter's Embrace: A Red Deer Reverie – by Lindsay Wiebe
Late November – by Judy Brownle
Christmas Cake – by Lauranne Hemmingway
A City Alive with Cheer - by Jaclyn Bell
Merry Memories - by Melanie Holland
I Really Just Wanted to Go Home for the Holidays - by SLF
In Winter's Embrace: A Red Deer Reverie
by Lindsay Wiebe
In Red Deer’s quietude, where the winter winds sigh,
A tapestry of twilight unfolds beneath the sky.
Luminous whispers adorn the branches bare,
As starlit dreams linger in the chilled, crisp air.
Pines, bedecked in silver, with snowflakes unveiled,
Stand sentinel and stoic while soft twilight prevails.
The streets, a gentle canvas, come alive with light,
Where laughter dances boldly, casting shadows bright.
Children, clad in warmth, embrace the season's chill,
Crafting snowmen and memories that time’s hands cannot still.
Their voices rise like carols, woven through the night,
In the embrace of winter, hearts take flight.
The fragrant notes of cinnamon and cocoa entwine,
In homes where embers flicker, and families recline.
Neighbors sharing bounty, with laughter’s sweet refrain,
Kindness wrapped in parcels, weaving joy through the pain.
The world takes on a shimmer, where kindness holds the key,
In acts of love and giving, we bind our tapestry.
A subtle reminder, in the hush of the night,
That connection enriches our souls with delight.
As icy rivers whisper, and clouds meander low,
The pulse of life hums gently, beneath a quilt of snow.
With every season’s passage, we gather, we evolve,
Finding warmth in the delicate ways our hearts can dissolve.
So here's to Red Deer’s winter, where the spirit sings,
In the symphony of moments, and the joy that it brings.
May the echoes of our laughter become a timeless art,
Illuminating the dark, weaving light into the heart.
Late November
by Judy Brownlee
Mountain town arrival.
From all directions,
North, south, east and west,
Beauty wraps me like a cozy blanket.
Early winter season has arrived.
Pristine, soft, white snow everywhere,
Sparkles of ice in silvery drifts,
Massive peaks in the distance
Submerged under frost and frozen water.
Crisp air in my nostrils
As I breathe in the wonder.
My heart loving all that I observe,
My head expecting Christmas scenarios.
However, no strings of festive lights
In the trees of chilly neighborhoods,
No traditional melodies from downtown outdoor speakers,
No blow-up Santas, no Rudolph.
Into a funky coffee shop I stroll,
The aroma of roasted beans hooking me.
Everyone in the cozy little cafe
Sports vibrant mountain garb.
A newspaper to peruse as I sip dark brew,
And then enlightenment arrives.
Wait for December, I read in the paper.
Wait for the rut of the large,
Wild animals to be over.
Christmas can spring to life
First of December, the article said.
Care for, love, respect,
And preserve the local species.
Therefore, no strings of Christmas lights
Stuck in antlers, no ungulate
Dying, stuck in a shrub or tree,
No swallowing plastic cords, no wires,
And no sharp, colorful bulbs to chew on,
While fattening up in the fall.
No creatures perishing.
Now I am informed. Knowledgeable.
In the Rocky Mountains,
The rut, the breeding time,
Is usually over by December first.
Mountain town arrival,
Late November.
Beauty wraps me like a cozy blanket
Christmas Cake
by Lauranne Hemmingway
Christmas cake – oh, so maligned
You sneer while I work, but I don’t mind
There are family and friends a plenty
Who have hinted ever so gently
They want some, blessed with rum
To grace their dessert tray, reminding of Mom
A City Alive with Cheer
By Jaclyn Bell
The city is bustling with holiday energy.
Friends explore markets by day or by night.
These moments together bring renewed unity.
Santa appears everywhere with remarkable frequency -
The mall, a bus, Ross Street—anywhere with an invite.
The city is bustling with holiday energy.
Performances pop up all over the city.
Dancers prance, musicians croon, and actors recite.
People of all ages share in delightful harmony.
Groups wander downtown hunting for an epic discovery.
They search for gifts, a pickle, or perhaps a knight.
The city is bustling with holiday energy.
Enthusiasts gather to make or buy crafts for a fee.
Sharing creativity with friends is a delight.
These moments together bring renewed unity.
The lights of City Hall draw people to create a new memory:
Photos with the ones you love, among the lights so bright.
The city is bustling with holiday energy.
These moments together bring renewed unity.
Merry Memories
by Melanie Holland
Christmas ornaments, dormant in totes
Nestled in tissue, wrapped with care.
Each treasure distinct, unique and rare
Time to unbox them, the little one shouts!
Each bauble and trinket, a memory so dear
Hearts are warmed as stories we do share.
Small hands made a clay Santa at daycare,
Eyes askew, a lopsided smile, we giggle and cheer.
From snowmen to crosses and plaid hockey skates,
Irish dancing fairies, Mickey Mouse ears,
Wooden stars, white Angels from previous years.
Each lighted branch, much joy it creates.
I Really Just Wanted to Go Home for the Holidays
by SLF
Cars zoom though slushy snow and road salt.
The brown sludge sticks to the bottom of my shoe
as I rush across the street, trying not to look at the line
of drivers that I’ve caused to stop.
The holiday season passes us by.
In a flash of white snow
and days that blur into one red and green scene
like what they play at the movies.
Nobody remembers
That this is when we should slow down.
Do less, move less, want less, rest.
But our 9-5’s persist.
Can you come in on Christmas eve?
How about boxing day?
We’re short staffed, we need you to work
so people can buy their things
after getting hoards of gifts
from people who were in no position to get them.
So I work on Christmas Eve
and I work on boxing day
because I need the money from the people
who just can’t seem to stop spending.
With each year
the holidays go by faster.
More of a blur.
Superficial gifts over the time we used to spend.
Blame it on phones.
Blame it on pandemics.
But maybe we’re all just tired.
All waiting for the cycles to end.
Cars honk, annoyed.
Get going they say through the noise.
But when I get home
through the window I see
a tree, illuminated with tiny, colourful lights.
