No sparkling tree to light the scene,
No sevens on my slot machine,
No family to share my Yule,
So I gave the arm another pull.
To numb the pain I downed my beer,
Dreading Christmas drawing near.
Gathered 'round the baby grand
My Yuletide fantasy began.
Sharing a night of song and cheer
With family and friends so dear.
The fire shed a golden light,
A fir tree glowed with strands of white,
Clanking coins from slot machines
Broke me from my shining dream.
Des’prate to change my view,
I took a seat in the back pew.
Bleary-eyed from guilt fed tears,
I ached to mend my broken years.
Deep inside my longing grew
For a life where love was true.
Gathered ‘round the baby grand,
They bowed their heads and joined their hands.
The preacher led the choir in prayer
And then they sang with heartfelt care.
The candles shed a golden light,
Fir trees glowed with strands of white,
Pain’s grip on my heart released
Yielding to the Prince of Peace.
The choir’s voice soared sweet and mild,
God and sinner reconciled.
In that moment I became
Cleansed of all my sin and shame.
Hot tears poured down my face,
My hopeful soul felt love’s embrace.
Gather ‘round the Baby Grand,
Feel the warm breath of a lamb.
Inhale the fragrance of sweet grace
As we behold our Savior’s face.
This baby born on Christmas night,
Pierced my darkness with His light.
Within my soul my savior dwells,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Author notes
Redemption
In a list
A contest entry
- music challenge by tony yates.
480 points, ended April 8, 2007, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Ace's Rhyming Narrative Contest! by AceOSpades.
850 points, ended April 27, 2007, 30 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Music and Lyrics (not the film, though) by By A New Name.
480 points, ended June 23, 2007, 8 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - An Old Fashion Christmas by daviscth.
400 points, ended November 19, 2007, 16 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - ~Truer Meaning of Christmas~ by Frozentearz.
525 points, ended December 9, 2007, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Joy to the world!!! 1,000 christmas poems wanted!!! by Elvenfairy.
3265 points, ended March 1, 156 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Allpoetry's Christmas 2007 Holiday Bash by Little Feather.
6900 points, ended January 3, 51 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - A Christmas Wish... by Asdzaa Nadleehe.
1400 points, ended December 26, 2007, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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A spectacular testimony that grasps the evident struggle between heaven and earth and all of us in between ... Excelsior and wondeful to read...Would you care to desing me Logo's For:
"Lord Castles Trees",
"Falcon Group"(Group Falcon),
"Lords Mark"
I'd pay you...
Symbols should include...Archer, castle, Trees,Forest
mystic waterfalls, A Knight in might poised with his arms folded over the shank of his sword etc.
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Yes, I see ...
you've done very well with this. I can see how it could be a song easily.
Good luck with that and with your personal journey, wherever it may lead you.
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Thank you for your entry
How beautiful that a sinner finds the light on this Holiest of nights. The night Christ was born to do just that, give His life that souls might be saved.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
Tammy
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Joyce this is absolutely one of the best I've read of yours!!! I love it. In this write, there is hurt, pain, bitterness and lonliness. And then, through God, there is healing and forgiveness and peace. Everything I love reading.
Beautiful my dear friend!!!!
GBY
SilverButterfly(aka) Mary
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Very lovely, thank you so much for your entry..
Peace and many blessings
~A~ -
I loved this and all it had to say you have delivered a wonderful poem of redemption and a great reminder of the truer holiday spirit of his Birthday Glad to have this within the contest.
Blessings,
Frozentearz -
I especially enjoyed the last two stanzas. Lovely, beautifully evolved use of repitition with "gather 'round the Baby Grand". A touching piece.
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nice poem about how Christmas heals hard things in life. Thanks for entering my contest. Merry Christmas and good luck!
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Redemption is such a bittersweet event! The stream of hot tears gave way to hope of the future. This brought tears to my eyes! What a profound piece. I like that it started in despair and ended in hope and freedom!
Thanks for sharing this heartwarming write!
Blessings and best wishes,
Frogz~ -
excellent~
This started out so very different...
But I really enjoyed the ending...
Best of luck in the contest...this looks like a winner to me
Hugs
Susan~~~
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This is stunning!! It started out so bleak then ended with a wonderful feeling!! Thank you very much for posting in my contest and I wish you the best luck at judging. Cathy
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This was amazing! Thank you for such a beautiful entry. I loved the idea and the repeating "Gather Round The Baby Grand." I also loved the fact that it was a non-cliched Christmas poem.
I'm also a Christian, so of course loved the redemption/salvation theme. And the use of the line "God and sinner reconciled," (which, incidentally, is from one of my favourite carols) simultaneously shows that he is being reconciled with God, and that the choir are singing... inspired! Thanks for this beautiful entry.
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I'm glad you like it. This is actually a song lyric that is on an obscure cd. My collaborator wrote the music. This piece means a lot to me.
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I really like this one... for some reason I enjoyed the first half far better than the second... I'm not exactly sure why, perhaps you did the miserable bit at the beginning slightly better than the salvation bit at the end (which you didn't do badly either)... This is still one of my favorites that I've seen so far, nicely done
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Thank you. This piece has been through a zillion edits and several group critques. I'm glad the misery part rings true - that was the more difficult part to write...
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Very Good!
I find this piece not only relatable but extremely well written. There are so many things in this world to tempt us and to take our eyes off our Lord. This is such a great reminder of how wonderful, forgiving and loving our Lord is. I was truly blessed by this. Well done!! Many Blessings to you, FAH
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Thanks so much
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Stellar is a good...
...word for this. The flow is very well done, and an easy read. Seems easy to sing as a song. The only thing I find needing a change is maybe making the text bolder or a deeper color. Hard to read against the light gray and blue.
I'm reminded of this one I wrote ( http://allpoetry.com/poem/2399745 ). You may find the background interesting on that one.
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Wow another stellar write from you! It's perfect!
All the best in this contest
Gaylene
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Thanks so much for your comments and applause. It's time for me to return the favor.
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