Christmas in bleak midwinter
by Elouise
Outside my kitchen window
the sun beams bright and clear
on a cold Monday morning
Hungry birds run into each other
trying to gobble as many
ripe red berries as the law
allows in this increasingly
lawless dreamland called
these ‘United’ states
A slight glimmer of hope
remains despite our
greedy determination
to spend it all on ourselves
before we disappear into
the vortex of a tornado or
wildfires of human mayhem
Christmas has rarely been
this bleak though in truth
it first arrived in bleak midwinter
when powers that be weren’t
expecting the revolutionary
transformation sparked by
one small baby born and laid
in a manger surrounded by
hopes and dreams despite
the stench of reality
Outside my kitchen window
the sun still beams bright and clear
on this cold Monday morning
With apologies to my friends on the other side of the globe, experiencing what may well be a bleak midsummer. And with thanks to persistent songbirds that captured my attention this morning with their determined dive-bombing for holly berries!
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 20 December 2021
Photo by Terry DeLuko found at pixels.com
Telling the Truth 
Dear Elouise, you’ve captured some of my thoughts – and so artfully – thank you! I heard a scientist on the radio yesterday morning, explaining that hope only grows in dark places. Your reflection picks up on that idea. I love it when related ideas float around in my/our air…
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Thanks, Debbie. I think the scientist you heard got it right about the birth of hope, providing we’re willing to live (or learn to live) within today’s troubling realities. Not just societal realities, but personal situations as well. When I think about it personally, this requires me to give up my desire to survive, etc. Not a very inviting place right now.
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Happy Holidays, Eloise, to you and yours. and prayers to have a better 22 than the past several years.
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Don, Thank you for your kind note. I pray the same for you and your family. And Yes! A better 22 would indeed be wonderful! Though it might take us a while to figure out how to be behave with each other. 🙂
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Dear Eloise, perhaps it is a time to remember the famous prayer that begins, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change …” I used to keep it on my office computer and frequently drew strength from it. Perhaps, when election time comes around, you may use your vote wisely to influence the change you desire.
In the meantime, have a blessed Christmas season and my very best to you in 2022.
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Thank you, Gwen! Yes, that’s one of my prayer mantras–thanks to AlAnon. I will most definitely use my vote as you suggest. I can’t think of a worse thing to do than sit back and do nothing when it’s time to vote. In the meantime, I’m close to 3/4 through your riveting autobiographical book, I Belong to No One. I can take about one or two chapters at a time. To me, it’s horrifyingly believable, and I hope it finds its way to women and men of any age who thinks things like this never happen. I pray Christmas will bring you great joy. Especially given the state of today’s ‘warring madness.’
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Thank you Elouise, that is such touching feedback. And I hope your fellow Americans turn out in droves to vote. You may know it is compulsory here and I fully support that approach. Even if you only vote for the donkey (that what’s we call a spoiled ballot paper).
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noel with the thought from the prophet joel. may your old men dream dreams
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Yes! And may these dreams come to life in better tomorrows, especially given the state of our current planet. Blessings of peace and good will to you.
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to you as well. happy xmos
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Happy Christmas!
(((HUGS)))
2️⃣5️⃣👼🎄🌟👪🙏🕯⛪ 🔔🎄🎉🎁
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Thank you, Carolyn! We had a quiet day, with phone calls from our adult children. Most of my time these days goes to health issues and doctor appointments. Not very exciting, I must say. I’ll be relieved when the end of January comes and I’ll (hopefully) have more clarity about my health situation. Right now it’s consuming tons of time–forms to fill out, files to keep updated, etc. Hugs to you, and prayers for the coming year! 🙂
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