A New Day Dawns

Source: Homegardener
Tarnished tinsel loosely wrapped around
a tired Christmas tree
sits forlorn on a snowy mound
waiting to be picked up
and carelessly thrown
on a travelling garbage heap.

Was it only twenty four hours ago
when it sparkled
with colored lights
twinkling on and off
listening to carolling voices
drunk on eggnog
and half asleep in turkey stupor?

Those fireside stories
kept rolling along from
old to young
midst loud laughter
softening to nostalgia
and gently falling tear drops.

The tree shivered in the cold air
longing for the warmth
of family and friends
cheering with crystal stemware
cracking nuts and jokes
in good humor.

Forgotten and fading fast
in frigid air
it felt abandoned,
till a sudden burst of sunlight
peeped through floating clouds
to revive its lifeless limbs.

You really love me,
whispered the bent branches
caressed by the breath of God,
moving from post-holiday lethargy
to a rosy horizon of possibilities.     

Viola Athaide, a student of Theology, is actively involved in parish life, leading Bible courses, the Prayer Group, and the Ministry with Maturing Adults.

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16 Comments
  • Peggy Spencer
    Posted at 03:00h, 18 January Reply

    Beautiful.

  • Sylvia Lee
    Posted at 11:16h, 18 January Reply

    Thank you for your poem, Viola. I love to hear the Christmas tree speaking to us. Beautiful sharing ! God bless you.

  • Lillian M Phelan
    Posted at 12:09h, 18 January Reply

    Viola, reading this reflection brought to mind all the homeless people suffering loneliness, hunger, friendship and a warm place to call home. It calls all of us to reflect on how much we have.

  • Lalita Figueredo
    Posted at 12:37h, 18 January Reply

    Viola, since you asked .. I think a fresh Christmas tree would say ‘I performed well during the Christmas season and now I get tossed on the curb’ and the artificial tree would say, ‘I did my job well and now I get boxed yet again and placed in the basement for another year!’

  • Maria Chrysant Susanto
    Posted at 15:27h, 18 January Reply

    Thanks for sharing your poem Viola. We might sometimes have the same feeling like the Christmas tree. Once you are sparkling, admired but there comes the time that you feel alone and lonely.

  • mario coutinho
    Posted at 16:27h, 18 January Reply

    Viola, that was the beautiful self-realization of appreciation and love by a Christmas tree that was totally unaware that it was so much loved and appreciated though it felt totally neglected for itself. It exudes a feeling that we often think is not true. We are always appreciated although it might not always be apparent.
    Thank you
    Mario and Olivia

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 19:53h, 18 January Reply

    Thank you Viola!

  • Catherine Schwan
    Posted at 20:42h, 18 January Reply

    Such a wonderful reflection Viola! Oh Christmas Tree!

  • Maria Lobo
    Posted at 10:56h, 19 January Reply

    Dear Viola,
    This is so inspiring and hopeful…prompting the “forlorn…tired…forgotten” ones (who have seen better days), to explore ” a rosy horizon of possibilities”….as we recognize His light & His love surrounding us!
    Thank you!

  • Marian Taylor
    Posted at 17:18h, 19 January Reply

    Beautiful reflection and beautifully poignant like all your works Viola. The overall sentiment of being discarded after its time of being central to the season rang true.
    I was not quite able to relate to warm fireplaces – it was 42.9 F, the hottest Christmas day on record in Perth in Western Australia. Thank you for that beautiful piece – love ypur stuff.

  • PHILIP CHIRCOP
    Posted at 17:21h, 19 January Reply

    Keep writing Viola.
    May your every word expressed
    and all the necessary silences in-between
    continue to be a blessing to many.

  • Linda R Rego
    Posted at 20:15h, 19 January Reply

    Lovely Viola. If trees could talk.

  • Andes Kwok
    Posted at 09:25h, 20 January Reply

    Beautiful poetry and it reminds me of “For everything there is a season” Ecclesiastics 3:1

  • Karen Arthurs
    Posted at 09:12h, 21 January Reply

    Possibility is a great symbol for the Christmas tree,Viola, as many zoos and animal sanctuaries now take them in the afterward to feed animals. The contrasts bring the senses alive !

  • Karen Yapp
    Posted at 18:09h, 21 January Reply

    Thanks Viola for your beautiful poem. I am not sure what my tree would be saying now but for me when the colored lights are on especially at night, they warm and comfort my soul as if I am in God’s presence. Oh yeah, my tree ( it’s artificial) is still up with all the trimmings and I am not sure when it will be taken down…..not for now. Maybe soon.

  • Fay
    Posted at 10:23h, 24 January Reply

    Viola, it is just amazing how when one reflects on the smallest things God Created we can look deeper into that object or once living item and then as you have so many times written in the past have been able to almost bring an object to life in words and thoughts – this is a true example of your creativity and reflection of our Lord’s Creation. May we too learn that we can look deeper into our lives and see new meaning each day in the very insignificant things that we take for granted.
    May the Holy Spirit always guide you in your writing as you share these thoughts with so many others and awaken our minds to do likewise.

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