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I find the string of lights in tangled skein,

I find the string of lights in tangled skein,
I plug it in - a flash and nothing more;
I twiddle every bulb, and try again:
Then give it up, and drive off to the store...

Where everyone buys everything they can
Their trolleys filled with turkeys, cakes and beer
The checkouts beep with festive laser scan
One final splurge of cash to end the year.

A vendor sells 'Big Issues' at the door
I salve my conscience with a single pound
And totter home to feast - forget the poor.
Some flakes of snow descend to dress the ground...

Listen. The carols tell of Jesus' birth
Goodwill to men, and Peace upon this Earth.

A contest entry

What did you think

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Comments

1 - 10 of 10

  • Mairi bheag gold member
    June 16

    Edit | Reply
    I am in two minds about Issue/Issues. But I do like the sentiments. I am reminded of these words of St Basil of Caesarea:

    “The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”

    The resolution also reminds me of Oscar Wilde's petrachian sonnet about the auctioning of John Keats' love letters.

  • ecrivain01
    June 2

    Edit | Reply

    Excellent poem ...

    although I find "forget the poor" to be a bit rude.

    However, the poem is obviously meant to be humorous there, so one can't be judgmental about that.

    Good luck in the contest.

  • Vera Rich
    June 1

    Edit | Reply
    This shows a good grasp of the form - in particular, the use of the volta is splendidly ironic. At the present stage of judging I am mainly checking for form - however I must commend your choice of language in "FESTIVE scan" and "DRESS the ground"... a very subtle linking of the inanimate with the human (what used to be called the "Pathetic fallacy").

    By the way, it might be better to write "Big Issues", since you are quoting (in the plural) the name of a publication.

  • Judith Chandler
    December 22, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    This was fun to read and well written.Like the local English touch with the Big Issue and the last stanza was a great contrast to the rest.

    "Everyone buys everything they can." I have had that feeling myself but hope not to do much shopping this year. What I planned to do is already done.


  • Sue Cardwell gold member
    December 4, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Congratulations on your trophy, a well deserved win.
    We look forward to seeing you in the next round and subsequent rounds of our contest.
    Thank you for your entry...Sue


  • cricketjeff gold member
    December 4, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    There aren't four top prizes or you would have had the fourth. I do not usually find sonnets easy on the ear, yours is beautifully farmed and so nice to see one on an unusual subject.
    Please have a crack at the later rounds too.
    Jeff and Sue


  • Darianna
    November 26, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    I find sonnets really hard to write
    I find I never can tweak them just right
    But you amaze me with how easily
    You make the form sound to me
    The pictures playing in each line
    Are clear, vivid and defined!
    I like particularly stanza three
    It's something that we are all guilty
    of doing around this time of year
    Of so called goodwill and festive cheer.
    I loved your sonnet, all the best
    to you while in this contest!

    Hugs, Dari xxx


  • SusanL
    December 23, 2005
    Edit | Reply
    a jewel from last Christmas! Thank you for digging ti up and posting it.
    I too like sonnets, and I have not written many of late - I hope to remedy that in the coming year.
    Susan


  • Keith
    November 15, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Just counted the syllables in line 13. I had twelve, so removed two. (Before someone else found out). Thanks for the positive words. Best Christmas Wishes.


  • Johnny Wheeler
    November 15, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Hi,
    This was wonderful to read my friend. This has that melodic flow of a true sonnet. The descriptins were vivd and colorful. Thank you for entering, and good luck.
    --Johnny

1 - 10 of 10