Escape From Christmas
A typical Christmas morning45 total reviews
Comment from Dawn Munro
LOL -- I think you just described ninety percent of North American households during Christmas, and the imagery your poem evokes is a strange combination of hilarious and comforting.
Have a shot for those of us on meds that don't let us drink, would you? Good luck in the contest!!!!!!!!
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2023
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LOL -- I think you just described ninety percent of North American households during Christmas, and the imagery your poem evokes is a strange combination of hilarious and comforting.
Have a shot for those of us on meds that don't let us drink, would you? Good luck in the contest!!!!!!!!
Comment Written 04-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2023
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Thanks, Dawn. Moxie is the strongest drink that I take. Second place in the contest.
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You're most welcome. I know -- well-earned! Congratulations.
Yes, I've never been a drinker either, which is just as well because these days I am on meds for hypertension. :))
Comment from dragonpoet
This sounds like the mayhem of a Christmas morning. I think as you get older clothes are acceptable as presents. But young kids like toys and scooters, etc. To stop the first fight of who goes first, we just always go from youngest to oldest. Sometimes when there was a lot of people we went oldest and youngest opened one at a time. Then we moved toward the middle. Drinking Jim Beam that early in the morning seems a problem to me.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Congrats on placing second in the contest.
Joan
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2022
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This sounds like the mayhem of a Christmas morning. I think as you get older clothes are acceptable as presents. But young kids like toys and scooters, etc. To stop the first fight of who goes first, we just always go from youngest to oldest. Sometimes when there was a lot of people we went oldest and youngest opened one at a time. Then we moved toward the middle. Drinking Jim Beam that early in the morning seems a problem to me.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Congrats on placing second in the contest.
Joan
Comment Written 30-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 31-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Joan. This may be a repeat reply. I am alcohol free. My drink of choice is Moxie.
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I was just responding to the poem. I should have said the speaker instead of you.
Happy New Year
Comment from Begin Again
As I, like so many others, get older and we remember the chaos and those promises of never again will we spend and spend... it seems old habits still creep in. Your poem definitely describe the scene perfectly... and for some the nightmare would end with Jim Beam.
Hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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As I, like so many others, get older and we remember the chaos and those promises of never again will we spend and spend... it seems old habits still creep in. Your poem definitely describe the scene perfectly... and for some the nightmare would end with Jim Beam.
Hugs, Carol
Comment Written 26-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Carol. Those hectic years are behind us now, but the memories linger on.
Comment from Cathy M
You captured the mayhem of Christmas morning perfectly. I thought your second and last line rhyming was very effective. It helped the poem ease into the following one. nice job.
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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You captured the mayhem of Christmas morning perfectly. I thought your second and last line rhyming was very effective. It helped the poem ease into the following one. nice job.
Comment Written 26-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Cathy. We have been through the kids and the grandkids. We now await the great grandkids.
Comment from Tom Horonzy
I suspect what you said is more a nightmare than a dream though in reality at the time it was quite the scene filled with screams and other less nice things being said. Now go to bed.
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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I suspect what you said is more a nightmare than a dream though in reality at the time it was quite the scene filled with screams and other less nice things being said. Now go to bed.
Comment Written 26-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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You are right, Tom. I should go to bed. It is 1:30 AM.
Comment from Kayte Ray
This is a really well written and complete piece. You do a nice job of presenting imagery that the reader can relate to. Your piece is easy to follow and flows well. Your presentation is good, Graphic is great. Consider playing with font styles to more completely evoke the emotion of your work.
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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This is a really well written and complete piece. You do a nice job of presenting imagery that the reader can relate to. Your piece is easy to follow and flows well. Your presentation is good, Graphic is great. Consider playing with font styles to more completely evoke the emotion of your work.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 26-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Kayte. Good advice on the font. Well, we made it through another year.
Comment from jessizero
This was a great Christmas poem! I loved the line about how some kids were naked and some in clothes. I got a laugh out of that. Every year, we vow not to bring gifts to my grandmother's house and buy for the whole family, but we seem to do it every year...
Anyway, thanks for sharing, and best wishes to you!
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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This was a great Christmas poem! I loved the line about how some kids were naked and some in clothes. I got a laugh out of that. Every year, we vow not to bring gifts to my grandmother's house and buy for the whole family, but we seem to do it every year...
Anyway, thanks for sharing, and best wishes to you!
Comment Written 25-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Jessi. It seems that the credit card gets a really hard workout during Christmas.
Comment from Frank Malley
"Escape from Christmas" is a wry, self-observant, funny poem about the truly strange ritual of Christmas in, at least, the Western World. Poet McFarland makes a string of what would be bizarre descriptions about this particular and odd morning, this orgy of gift-giving that both satisfies some primal drive and drives the economies of the world. In America particularly, the Christmas orgy has been present for (I'm guessing) about a century, a period since mass production made possible the wild celebration of goods that now displaces what originated as a recognition of Jesus Christ's birth.
Although he doesn't reflect upon his own childhood Christmases, the poet's observations of enthralled unwrapping and delighting reveal that he does indeed remember, himself, gray winter dawns when he ran to the Christmas tree and its Ali Baba heap of wondrous goods.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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"Escape from Christmas" is a wry, self-observant, funny poem about the truly strange ritual of Christmas in, at least, the Western World. Poet McFarland makes a string of what would be bizarre descriptions about this particular and odd morning, this orgy of gift-giving that both satisfies some primal drive and drives the economies of the world. In America particularly, the Christmas orgy has been present for (I'm guessing) about a century, a period since mass production made possible the wild celebration of goods that now displaces what originated as a recognition of Jesus Christ's birth.
Although he doesn't reflect upon his own childhood Christmases, the poet's observations of enthralled unwrapping and delighting reveal that he does indeed remember, himself, gray winter dawns when he ran to the Christmas tree and its Ali Baba heap of wondrous goods.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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Great review, Frank. My poem is quite autobiographical except for the Jim Beam. My drink of choice is Moxie.
Comment from Aussie
Paul, this is the best Christmas poem I have ever read! Line by line it tells the truth, from the time that Santa landed on the roof. Sound of hooves and neighing from those supposed reindeers, fat old man, Santa stuck in chimney because he went to Macca's before he landed at your house! Happy Christmas friend. Kay xx
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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Paul, this is the best Christmas poem I have ever read! Line by line it tells the truth, from the time that Santa landed on the roof. Sound of hooves and neighing from those supposed reindeers, fat old man, Santa stuck in chimney because he went to Macca's before he landed at your house! Happy Christmas friend. Kay xx
Comment Written 25-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2022
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You are more than generous, Aussie. Those days are in my past, but great grandchildren are in my future.
Comment from Jim Wile
This would be 6 stars if I had anymore to give. What a great poem that so accurately reflects what Christmas is like these days. You've told it beautifully in this Christmas ballad with perfect, unforced rhyming and meter. Very well done, Paul.
reply by the author on 24-Dec-2022
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This would be 6 stars if I had anymore to give. What a great poem that so accurately reflects what Christmas is like these days. You've told it beautifully in this Christmas ballad with perfect, unforced rhyming and meter. Very well done, Paul.
Comment Written 24-Dec-2022
reply by the author on 24-Dec-2022
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Thanks, Jim. Those days are behind us now, but we have the memories.
