Let Christmas Come
Let strings of rainbows ringing patios,
and radiant pearls outlining roofs
blink into the twilight.
Let the sales flyers fatten the morning papers
while evening forays to the mall
flatten wallets. Let Christmas come.
Let “Joy to the World” circulate
around preoccupied customers
loading carts with gadgets, turkeys and chocolates.
Let Michael, Diana
Perry and Sara promise us
they’ll be home. Let Christmas come.
To the crèche and the airport
the foodbank and the home
the bright-eyed child and the lonely tramp
let Christmas come.
Let it come to us all, for He
comes to who will in nativity
of heart, so let Christmas come.
© 2011 by Violet Nesdoly
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This poem was inspired by the April 15, 2009 prompt on the Poetic Asides blog:
“Take the title of a poem you especially like (by another poet) and change it. Then, with this new altered title, I want you to write a poem. An example would be to take William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheelbarrow” and change it to “The Red Volkswagon.” Or take Frank O’Hara’s “Why I Am Not a Painter” and change it to “Why I Am Not a Penguin.” You get the idea, right? (Note: Your altered poem does NOT have to follow the same style as the original poet, though you can try if you wish.)”
My poem is based on “Let Evening Come” by Jane Kenyon
Violet Nesdoly 
Interesting prompt that I might have to try.
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Lovely tribute to Christmas and Jane Kenyon. “Let Evening Come” is surely one of the most beautiful poems ever written.
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Thank you so much, Maureen and Ellen.
Maureen, it is an interesting exercise to mirror another poem. I’ve done it before. Once, for example, I tried to mimic the catchy rhythm of a poem I liked in one I wrote – writing about a different subject altogether.
Ellen, I too love “Let Evening Come’ –such a reassuring piece. Thanks so much for your comment. I “like” your “like.” 🙂
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