Sunday, December 13, 2020

Haibun


 There Once Was a Time 


 

This is a time of joy, of pleasure in anticipation. The lights and sparkle, the fragrances and food. The snow and presents. This is a childhood Christmas.

 

December is the longest month in my impatient child mind. The days of Advent. Count them off–one, two, three…days of diligently working on the embroidered pillow cases for Aunt Jo, the making of paper chains and snowflakes, of sponge painting plain tissue to use as gift wrap, of helping Mom bake cookies and fruitcake.

 

There are trips into town to view the decorated windows, visits to toy land and Santa. It doesn't matter that department store Santas are seldom plump and rolly-polly, but often thin and angular. We know they are stand-ins for the real Santa who is busy working in the North Pole. This is a time to accept, to believe and hope, a time to wish, to ignore the news of the dead and dying, of battles won and lost in Europe and in the Pacific, a time to not speak of Uncle Jim fighting somewhere in Italy, a time not to complain about shortages, about Dad working late, about Mom working the swing shift from four to eleven p.m.

 

evening prayers

I forget and put myself

at the beginning

 Shamrock

6 comments:

Sandy said...

What a picture you painted! I felt that I was there. It is okay to put yourself first as a child. God understands children very well.

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

I am going to pull myself back together and get into a posting routine for the new year.

6-10 inches due for the storm tomorrow. Is it going to pass through your area?

Adelaide said...

Thanks Sandy

I have candles, flashlights and a small alcohol burner ready in case of a power outage. i can heat a can of soup on it.

Merry Christmas to you

Adelaide

Gillena Cox said...

Gorgeous haibun. LOL your end haiku gave me a chuckle

Happy you dropped by my blog today

Much💗love

Adelaide said...

Thanks, Gillena.

As a child, I wished for snow at Christmas. Yesterday we got 12 inches, about 11 inches too much.

Adelaide

Dejan Pavlinović said...

Lovely haibun dear Adelaide!
Congrats with your new book book!
Wishing you a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Adelaide said...

Thank you, Dejan.

adelaide