Above is the proper Irish way
to greet a friend on Christmas Day.
But before that day has come to pass,
most folks go to Midnight Mass
to celebrate the Infant Boy
and His promise of eternal joy.
After Mass, our glad hearts knocking,
home we go to fill the stocking
with sweets and goodies for each child
and trust that innocence, undefiled,
will be the lot of every one;
grandson, daughter, niece and son.
And as we trudge home through the snow,
each window shows a candle's glow;
beacons in the starry night
that light the way, so Jesus might
find His way to each abode
and ease the sufferer's painful load.
That, to me, is the Christmas meaning:
renewal, hope, the soul's spring-cleaning.
Those are the memories I still hold dear,
more precious with each passing year,
and so, I hope my Irish greeting
will live in your heart--without deleting.
Author notes
Nollaig Shona Duit is pronounced more like Nollag Honna Dit.
A contest entry
- Christmas by Darc Soul 69.
700 points, ended January 6, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Bravo...
Oh I liked the phraseology of " soul's spring cleaning" and the festive portrait you paint with heartfelt harmony you paint with artistry.
Christmas is a sad time for many for many reasons, including myself because of grieving, but it is still important to hold on to the true spirit of giving and with that in mind I manned the telephone line for a stint Christmas Eve and listened to various voices of strangers sharing their pain and wishes, it's vital only that I listen, share and care and do not overload by questioning in return. I asked each only one question, what three things are you grateful for,counting as blessings all year through? That question was effective because each and everyone was heartwarmed to answer their own blessings found and realized that the calendar day they had been dreading, either because of lonlieness, grief or lack of gifts to give and received, may still weigh heavy but that they would have the blessings they were grateful for all year through anyway. Maybe we should start a new custom and along with the toffees and fruit in the Chistmas Stocking add a list of things we know the person will have, the list is long once the thinking cap has been put on.
Enough of my babbling like a brook!
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this is a very good entry i enjoyed reading it. i thank you for taking the time to enter and best of luck to you in the contest
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Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr.
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Bill, this is braw. And the Irish Gaelic is very similar to the Scots - even though I know only the very slightest few words of either, to my shame. If only we could free Christmas from its gross commercialism, we'd all be a lot better - in heart and eke in mind. Compliments of the Season to you, in all languages.
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Born free from sin, to die on the cross to pay for the sins of many! HIS love for us all, we cherish always. Christmas as it was meant to be. What a lovely poem you have written my friend. ~Sie
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Nollaig Shona Duit to you Bill.What a beautiful way to share that Christmas Spirit that we all to often forget exits. God bless my friend...The world needs much more of this I feel...Slan..mal
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I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into the Irish heart. Love the stocking tradition which has survived well in America, too, and the thought of walking home from midnight mass past windows lit with candleshine - nicely done on this rhyme of the season with its Irish title, Nollaig Shona Duit, which sounds so soft and sweet.
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