Nemo Simon | + Follow Poet |
Sonnet | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

A Dissection of Christmas

Bereft of vim, in copses branches bow
by winter's whims cursed to exsanguinate.
As far as naked gazes would allow
we marveled at Earth's crimson-spattered pate.

Cold skin met woolen mitten as we sought
the wealth of Christmas spirit to convey.
A horde of hands and hearts in darkness fought
'til desolation's troops beleaguered lay. 

A tincture, scarlet faces did proceed
Accompanied by streams of jolly tunes
To soothe encumbered souls and vanquish need,
A surrogate for Nature's frozen boons.

Beneficence twixt folk in times unkind:
I've found this "Christmas" thusly best defined.

[for contest: ring size= 7, favorite color= red]

Copyright © Nemo Simon | Year Posted 2018

Please Login to post a comment

Andrea Dietrich Date: 10/29/2018 7:42:00 PM Excellent theme, vocabulary and meter went into the creation of your top winning sonnet. Big congratulations, Nemo Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/31/2018 9:49:00 AM Thank you kindly, Andrea!

Brian Densham Date: 10/28/2018 2:50:00 PM Unique approach! A picture of environment painted ruthlessly accurate yet maintaining contact with social norms. A lesson in intersectionalism I think! Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/31/2018 9:48:00 AM I appreciate your feedback, especially because I was worried my poem was leaning toward overly didactic and cold. I'm happy to hear I kept a good balance between the familiar/material world and abstract concepts. Thank you !

Joyce Johnson Date: 10/27/2018 9:13:00 PM Very nice, Nemo. congratulations on your high placement. Love, Joyce Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/28/2018 12:19:00 AM Thank you for the kind wishes, Joyce !

Bartholomew Williams Date: 10/27/2018 6:58:00 PM Congratulations, Nemo, on your #2 placement in this contest and for winning the jewelry! All my best. :) Bartholomew Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:07:00 PM Thank you very much, Bartholomew!

Deb Radke Date: 10/27/2018 2:02:00 PM This is splendid! I love the story. Congratulations on your win in the contest. Very well-deserved. Deb Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:07:00 PM thank you, Deb! I'm glad my poem resonated with you.

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 10/27/2018 1:20:00 PM An excellent entry worthy of your top placement Nemo. It exceeded all expectations! Congratulations! : ) Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:08:00 PM That's very kind of you to say- thank you :)

Wendy Watson Date: 10/27/2018 8:37:00 AM Many congratulations, Nemo. An altogether different look at this theme. It took me back to the Christmas truce ceasefires between the Germans and the Brits during the first World War. Best wishes Wendy Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:12:00 PM I showed this poem to a friend and he made the same connection- that's exciting to me because I didn't particularly have WWI in mind when writing (of course now, in retrospect, I do realize it's a fitting comparison; however, I was never the best history student so it didn't jump right at me initially). Thank you very much :)

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 10/27/2018 7:56:00 AM Nemo, beneath your poem you put size seven ring and favorite color red. I'm assuming this is a ladies' size seven as men's sizes usually begin at 8. I will see if I have a size seven red ring to send to you and if I do, I will include another matching piece of jewelry. Your poem is wonderful and made the top ten on both my and Jack's list. That was the case for all those in the top five. So send your address in Soup Mail. Hope to mail prizes in the coming week! Hugs, Carolyn Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:18:00 PM Thank you very much, Carolyn! I'm absolutely tickled to have placed so highly. I've sent a Soup Mail

CayCay Jennings Date: 10/27/2018 2:44:00 AM Congratulations on your top placement with this exceptionally written poem sure to make your new status a familiar one well worth keeping track of. I enjoyed it very much, and I'm happy to kinda, sorta meet you. Poetry hugs ... CayCay Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:16:00 PM Aw, you're too sweet! <3 I'm thrilled you enjoyed it and am pleased to kinda sorta meet you as well, and look forward to getting to know different styles and voices in the community

Rob Carmack Date: 10/27/2018 12:54:00 AM Yes Nemo! I am glad that this placed well. Congrats and welcome again to PS. Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/27/2018 7:17:00 PM Thanks for the support, rob! This was totally unexpected for me- I'm very grateful.

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 10/26/2018 11:31:00 PM Very beautiful, Nemo, with perfect rhyme, meter and form. Congratulations on taking second place! Please send me a Soup mail with an address where I can send your prize. Thanks for sharing your lovely poem with us, Carolyn Login to Reply

Kim Rodrigues Date: 10/24/2018 7:52:00 PM Welcome to Poetry Soup! Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/25/2018 10:27:00 AM Thank you, Kim! I appreciate it :)

Rob Carmack Date: 10/22/2018 9:46:00 PM I have been watching this contest fill up, and this is my favorite of all the entries I could find, there is no close second. I see this is your first poem here, so welcome to PS. I hope that this places well in the contest. Login to Reply Nemo Simon Date: 10/23/2018 8:00:00 AM Thank you, rob- you are very kind! I've lurked around PS for some time, often using the contest prompts as inspiration for my own poems; I'm eager to finally join the community and spread some love for this underappreciated art.