Decisions

Pine trees whisper
while I give thought
to which is the best
on the Christmas tree lot.

It might be a balsam
or a Douglas fir
trying to decide--
my mind is in a whirr.

Finally, I see  one
that stands out from the rest.
This is my Christmas tree.
It is the best.


     I knocked at the door of my neighbors' house yesterday.  From the window I could see the beautiful 7 ft. tree in their living room.  Seeing the tree made me feel so cheerful and full of Christmas spirit.  It did make me feel so happy.  What makes you feel happy?  Reading a book?  Getting your homework done?  Doing a good deed?  Can you write a poem today about something happy?

                          cut Douglas fir tree
                          stands in the Christmas tree lot
                          a cardinal sings

The Tree

All

week

I've waited

for this day.

On my sled Dad

loads some rope, 

and a small ax, and

his chain saw.  He picks

up the lead rope to pull my sled.

"Come on," he says.  "Let's go get 

us a

Christmas

tree."

     Does your family put up a Christmas tree?  How do you get your tree?  Who picks it out?  What does the tree look like?  Here in Arizona a lot of families do not put up Christmas trees, they decorate the cactus.  Or, they have artificial trees.  Can you write a poem about your tree?  What does it smell like?  Feel like?  What do you like best about your tree?  Have fun writing.

Silver Bell

A 

silver 

bell, shiny 

and bright, rang

as it snowed all 

through the night.

It hung upon a tall pine

tree ringing sweet and prettily

for all the folks that came to see

the Lincoln Square Christmas tree.

Ting-a-ling,

Ting-a-ling,

Ting-a-ling.

     Oh I had fun writing this poem.  I started by brainstorming a long list of holiday items and then I wrote the poem.  As I was typing this version into my computer, I was struck by how easily this would make a concrete poem, so I tried it that way.  As we get busy with the holidays, do you make to-do lists?  Can you turn one of your lists into a poem?