Merry Christmas and welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Buffy Silverman Here. Thank you, Buffy, for hosting. I’m looking forward to finding out what Buffy has in store for us!
In 2014, I published a story in the Holiday Issue of Highlights for Children entitled “Tulip Lane Holidays.” It’s the story about a little boy, who happens to celebrate Christmas, and how he befriends his next door neighbor, an elderly Jewish woman. I actually love this story and had been wondering whether it was available on the Internet. So I Googled the title and discovered that Highlights had made the story into an audio book that is available Here. So my little story lives on!
This week I received this lovely photo and poem “Into the Light” from Janet Fagel. It made me think of how “light” can be a metaphor for many things, emotional or intellectual, and we can let the light in or not.
Into the Light
In dark moments
Sparks of brightness shoot
Towards hearts.
Candles’ glow sings
Notes we can hear,
If we listen,
Light can change
Everything
If we let it.
Janet Fagel
December 2021
My was finally decorated and this clown is my favorite ornament, hand made by the wife of a very sweet elderly man, the proprietor of an Irish pub, who I saw in my medical clinic in Syracuse, quite a while ago, when I was an intern. She made me two little clowns, like the one in the photo, and they show up every year to boost my Christmas spirit.
Merry Christmas to all, stay well, and thank you, Buffy, for hosting.
So now I want to know what happens to Mrs. Flugelman… sounds like a great story Janice, and congrats on having it available as an audio book! Yes to letting in that beautiful illuminating light in Janet’s poem. Lovely tree too, enjoy all those memories, and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Meant to say thanks for your comment on my poem, Michelle! Hope your holidays were good ones and many more days of great things ahead.
Janet
Merry Christmas right back atcha! How neat to listen to a little bit of Tulip Lane Christmas. Congrats on the find after publication. I love your thought on light. I am so happy that we are moving toward days of more light now. I’m not a fan of the early dark. What good fortune that you received light in a poem from Janet. And…the story of your favorite ornament is lovely. What a treasure.
Such an important message in Janet’s poem! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your comment here, Mary Lee. Hoping your holidays were lots of what you wanted. And light for all of us!
Janice, congratulations on having your lovely story live on. It is wonderful to bring the art of sharing into the new year. The clown ornament is a gift of sharing the warmth of Christmas. May these ornaments always bring you great memories and joy. Lastly, Janet shares a lovely poem on light with a great message for us: “Light can change everything if we let it.” Merry Christmas to you!
Stopped by last week but did not get to comment, just wanted to thank you for your nice comment about my poem. Hoping you have lots of beautiful light in your life this year. I know your grandgirls surely bring you a lot of very bright moments! Happy New Year, Carol.
How cool that your story has a new life online! Love the openness to light in Janet’s poem. Thanks for sharing it, and wishing you a joyful Christmas.
Hi Buffy,
Thanks for your nice comment about my poem. Wishing you all the light you need in the new year!! I am focusing on all we have to be thankful for and look forward to. Praying light shines its beauty on all.
How serendipitous to find your story is an audiobook! Thanks for sharing the beautiful poem from Janet. May you find the light hiding in the darkness this season.
Thanks for your nice comment, Margaret. I can tell from your posts that your holidays have been full of the light of love and family. Wishing you all the light possible! You surely bring so much to so many. Happy New Year.
When a story like yours lives on is the best part of the internet, Janice. Thanks for sharing Janet’s poem – poets like you two “change everything”. Sending you and yours light and love. 🙂
Thank you, Bridget, for your lovely comment about my poem and about my good friend Janice! We live near each other and have been at workshops together a few times. Sending lots of wishes for beautiful light in the new year for you and yours!