Sadness at Christmas 2008

"Sadness at Christmas 2008" Ann Harvey  (In the rhythm of Noel Coward!)

Was it a shadow

Was it a dream

That passed that grey patch of mist in the town

Was it a bird

Was it a thought

Or was it your letter

Mentioning nought

Coming from far away 

To heal the world you say     

The winding sheet of mists

Around the wars and sadness

Of coffins dark and dismal

Products of pure madness

The day expresses this to me

Why dwell on sadness we can't see

We take the people of all the world 

Into our hearts and grieve along

With their mourning woeful song

And darkened skies of Christmas lights

With human maladies and plights

Not every child is driven with greed

A few can see the pressing need

For better thoughts at times like these

To spread a joy and hearts appease

Remember the name of one small flower

"Heartease," (viola tricolour-thought)

That such a tiny thing could make

The world a better place to wait

In wonder at its many faces

The globe of blue has many graces

"Pansy"(pensée) is its other name

"Day and night" the Northern's claim

"Step-mother" too, strange names for you

Purple-blue defying grasses

Face held high to see the sky

Yes small wonders do us soothe

In the darkness of the month

That holds the "Christmas rose" ( or "Hellibore")

That growing in the English garden

Smiles at the moon as white as she

In Winters darkness happily

Reflecting light from earth to sky

Peace and good will, why not why?

That every man could hope to see

In this the twenty first century.