{"id":1130,"date":"2014-11-16T16:11:16","date_gmt":"2014-11-16T16:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2014-11-16T22:11:53","modified_gmt":"2014-11-16T22:11:53","slug":"thoughts-as-we-approach-christmas-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/thoughts-as-we-approach-christmas-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts as we approach Christmas &#8211; Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>As we approach Christmas, a few thoughts come to mind as well as a few suggestions for presents for the coming season!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What is Christmas about? For giving thanks for the year gone, and telling those dear to us what they mean to us. And, after the dinner, when the alcohol kicks in, a bit too much honesty in that regard often proves to not have been the best ideas!<\/p>\n<p>I was invited by the American writer <strong>Tate Morgan<\/strong> to contribute a few lines to his annual project on WritersCafe.org where a group of writers all write a four line verse that is a poem in its own right, but makes part of a larger poem, which is then shared in the group, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.writerscafe.org\/writing\/aristate\/1442635\/\">2014 &#8220;Christmas Canon&#8221; can be seen here<\/a> &gt;&gt;&gt; Share it online, and tag someone who would like to see it as a way to extend seasons greetings!<\/p>\n<p>The poor are always with us, Christ said, and with human greed being the way it is, that is true enough, in our own little land as any, and the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/images-of-christmas\/\">images we have of Christmas<\/a><\/strong> always leave out those who for we all are Scrooges at the seasonal time&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>On a lighter note, there is nothing like a good laugh, and for those with a broad mind, and the not easy offended, the verse of choice I offer for you to recite is the story of &#8220;<strong><a title=\"Bad Santa\" href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/bad-santa\/\">Bad Santa<\/a><\/strong>&#8220;&#8230; and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/santa-xxx\/\">Santa XXX<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p>For those yu would like to give a calender to for Christmas, may I suggest Siobhan English&#8217;s calender, for the Horse Fairs of Ireland Facebook page, which features a contribution from yours truly!<\/p>\n<p>Books of interest include &#8220;Tara Calling&#8221; and &#8220;The Day The Mirror Called&#8221;, the former an account on the campaign against the M3 motorway and the latter a tribute to the late Ted Browne in verse.<\/p>\n<p>All are reviewed with links to where they can be bought here <a title=\"2015 Siobhan English Horse Fair Calender, Tara Calling book, and Blackwater Poetry tribute anthology \u2013 some projects Hot Off of the Presses\" href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/2015-siobhan-english-horse-fair-calender-tara-calling-book-and-blackwater-poetry-tribute-anthology-some-projects-hot-off-of-the-presses\/\">&gt;&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Others of my Cristmas poems incude &#8220;<a title=\"Tinsel, Spiders and Christmas Trees\" href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/tinsel-spiders-and-christmas-trees\/\">Spiders and Christmas Trees<\/a>&#8221; among others&#8230; and its tragic to still have to write of Iraq in the context of Christmas &#8211; &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/letter-to-santa\/\">Letter to Santa<\/a>&#8221; hasnt been granted we see&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Of desires not granted, an a little less tragic for society, though as tragic for the author, is the verse &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/snowflakes-in-another-land\/\">Snowflakes in Another Land<\/a>&#8220;, an unrequited love poem for the season that is in it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we approach Christmas, a few thoughts come to mind as well as a few suggestions for presents for the coming season! What is Christmas about? For giving thanks for the year gone, and telling those dear to us what they mean to us. And, after the dinner, when the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[194,609],"tags":[1062,380,1064,358,779,1280,1281,1276,1277,1059,1278,1279,357],"class_list":["post-1130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-books","tag-2015-calender","tag-bad-santa","tag-carmel-diviney","tag-christmas","tag-horse-fairs-of-ireland","tag-ideas-for-christmas-presents","tag-irish-writers","tag-poem","tag-santa","tag-siobhan-english","tag-tate-morgan","tag-writerscafe-org","tag-xmas","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-ie","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":238,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/santa-xxx\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":0},"title":"Santa XXX","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"3rd December 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Santy is an unknown casanova... An intercontinental romantic supernova, He gets to play away Once a year for a day... Behind the back of unsuspecting Mrs Clausova!!! He sneaks into womens homes a night, Silent so as not to cause fright, By the way to girls and boys, Who have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Poetry","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/christmas-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-and-his-Women.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-and-his-Women.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-and-his-Women.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-and-his-Women.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1318,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/santys-christmas-party\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":1},"title":"Santy&#8217;s Christmas Party","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"5th December 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"They had finished all the presents, cleared off all the shelves Wrapped up all the chocolates, Santa and the Elves Someone brought out the bubbly, Mrs Claus opened the wine: It was the North Poles Christmas Party - all were set for a good time! Mrs Clause got merry, Santa\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Funny Poems (18+!!!)&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Funny Poems (18+!!!)","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/funny-poems-18\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Santy's Christmas Party","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Santys-Christmas-Party-300x245.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4581,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/christmas-reflection-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":2},"title":"Christmas Reflection 2019","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th December 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"What does He who died for us In his heart Sacred feel As we tell our kids that there is no God But Santa Claus is real?","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Poetry","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/christmas-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rubens Adoration of the Magi (1609-1629) Photo: Wikimedia Commons","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Adoration-of-the-Magi-by-Reubens-from-Wikipedia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Adoration-of-the-Magi-by-Reubens-from-Wikipedia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Adoration-of-the-Magi-by-Reubens-from-Wikipedia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Adoration-of-the-Magi-by-Reubens-from-Wikipedia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4807,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/christmas-under-covid-lockdown-in-ireland\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":3},"title":"Christmas Under COVID Lockdown in Ireland","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th November 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We are hoping Ireland is not at Level 5 for Christmas, and that churches will be open for the Christmas. The verse has a novel suggestion for the cure for #COVID too! Santa will be breaking the lockdown in December Regardless if or not its Level 5 He will be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Christmas Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Christmas Poetry","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/christmas-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Santa-at-a-Checkpoint-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Santa-at-a-Checkpoint-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.celtichosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Santa-at-a-Checkpoint-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":903,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/christmas-eve-at-the-hospital\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":4},"title":"Christmas Eve at the Hospital","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"24th December 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Everybody was getting drowsy, drinking coffee to keep awake, Planning to get kebabs and chips, eating biscuits to beat the band, Idly scanning the CCTV when all of a sudden a shape was seen... It looked like reindeer and a sleigh, with a waving hand... There was no Garda helicopter,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Folklore and Legend&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Folklore and Legend","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/folklore-and-legend\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Santa seen in Tullamore","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-in-Tullamore.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-in-Tullamore.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-in-Tullamore.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-in-Tullamore.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Santa-in-Tullamore.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1015,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/bad-santa\/","url_meta":{"origin":1130,"position":5},"title":"Bad Santa","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"30th November 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Santas in the bathroom smoking dope I think for him theres not a hope Hes in there with me aunties And hes trying on their panties He has got them tied up with a rope!!! I always knew him to be a messer But never though of him as a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Funny Poems (18+!!!)&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Funny Poems (18+!!!)","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/funny-poems-18\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bad Santa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Bad-Santa.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Bad-Santa.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Bad-Santa.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1130"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}