Sunday Poetry: Because I Was Young That Morning

Welcome to Sunday Poetry.  If this is your first visit you can read about the purpose and inspiration of my Sunday poetry blogs here.

I’m learning I must read at least ten or even twenty poems before I find one I want to feature here.  Not because the others aren’t wonderful, but because I want to share poetry that’s accessible and hopeful, poetry that explores the human heart in all its depth, but leaves me glad to be human.

Looking for just the right Christmas poem, I read many before I stumbled on Christmas 1963 at Writer’s Almanac, where many of the poems on this blog come from.  I was so moved that I knew you would be, too.  Right now how many families are undergoing the same trials, yet perservering and supporting each other?  What will their children remember in years to come? 

I was personally reminded of a Christmas when money for anything but food and mortgage was hard to come by and my husband and I shopped at garage sales and secretly refurbished toys so there would be a decent showing under our Christmas tree.  Most of us have had Christmases like that.  How do you remember yours?  What Christmas or other important holiday in your life was worthy of poetry?

Remember there are no quizzes here, no right ways to read or contemplate the poem we share.  Absolutely no dissecting allowed.  Just come along for the “read.”  What line, word or thought will you carry with you this week?  If you’d like to tell us where the poem took you?  We’ll listen.

5 Comments

  1. Audrey Bonnell on December 18, 2011 at 9:55 am

    I was seventeen then I don’t remember so much then about that Christmas, but the ones leading up are filled with warm memories. My dad had his own business and I know we were struggling. But Christmas always seemed to be full of magic. Things were more simple then and homemade gifts were so appreciated. Mom was a crafter and I learned from her. Love is the most important gift you can give and I thank God for the amazing gift of Christ, as this showed us how to love. Thanks Emilie and hope your Christmas is truly blessed.

    • Emilie Richards on December 26, 2011 at 4:33 pm

      I got an unexpected Christmas gift today when I happened upon all these wonderful stories and comments. For some reason WordPress stopped sending me emails with the comments enclosed, so I thought no one had read and loved the poem the way I did. What a gift to read your own responses to it. I’m so glad it brought back memories for you, as it had for me. Thanks for sharing them.

  2. Lucy Golden on December 18, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    ” Because we had little that year and were given much.”

    One of my dear friends husband is comatose, in the final stages of cancer. This line reminds me that for their family, Christmas is taking on a different meaning this year, but yet they still have the love of family & friends & the memories of their husband, father, uncle, brother, cousin to comfort them forever.

  3. florence fois on December 19, 2011 at 12:57 am

    Lovely thoughts that remind me of the second Christmas I was a single parent. I was in school, working and hocked a tape deck to get them each something. I knew they would get “plenty” at their dad’s and from their grandmother, but I wanted things for them under our tree. Then I remembered how the big guy (four years old) asked me what Santa was bringing to me, so I took a pair of jeans I bought in Canal Jeans (second hand) folded them and put them in a X-mas box. When he got older he knew what I had done and made sure I always had at least something new under the tree from Santa (him). Isn’t it great how we can make due and still be left with great memories? Thanks for the poem and the lovely story about you and your family 🙂

  4. GladysMP on December 19, 2011 at 4:10 am

    There are so many families in dire straits this Christmas. Thankfully there are a huge number of events organized to help children receive toys under their tree. I pray that every child is reached by one of these toy collections.

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