Best Sugarplums Poems
'Twas the night before Christmas' ...
And with finances dead,
No black number lasted -
Turned Rudolph-nose red.
My wallet, 'twas empty,
My plastic, quite maxed,
My bank account, zero,
My credit - gone, axed!
My back, like my money,
Was spent and inflamed ...
The gift-wrapping mess
Put a landfill to shame.
The stockings were jammed
With a slew of odd junk,
Tho' I don't recall WHAT,
(Being just short of drunk).
I'd hung them with care
'Bove the fireplace, but ...
They all smelled like smoke,
With the flue frozen shut.
My goodwill was doomed
For the shape it was in,
And my patience had left
With the last of the gin.
But bless all the guests,
They slept like the dead,
(Our sugarplums spiked
With pure Panama Red).
Perhaps I could sleep now,
Sans nightmares and fear,
Left dreaming the madness ...
Of Christmas ... NEXT year.
~ 2nd Place ~ in the "The Night Before 2" Poetry Contest, Joseph May, Judge & Sponsor.
~ Poem of the Day ~ featured at Poetry Soup on December 7, 2019 - thank you, Admins!
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas, funny, humorous, satire,
Form:
Rhyme
Twas the site before Christmas
and all through the place
All the poets were writing
happy thoughts to embrace
They sprinkled each stanza
with seasonal things
Like Santa Claus, candy canes,
five golden rings
All phrases were penned
with a holiday gleam
As sugarplums danced
in the midst of their dream
With Frosty the Snowman,
live wreaths on the door
Evergreens, Jingle bells,
presents galore
Tree trimming poems,
sleigh bells and joys
Fairly land winters
and elves making toys
A star in the sky
that three wise men did see
A babe in a manger,
the nativity
Hot cups of cocoa,
the garland is strung
Tinsel and ornaments,
stockings are hung
I read and I laughed
and I grinned ear to ear
Perusing their poems
of Christmastime cheer
When I thought of writing
out one of my own
Not a creature was stirring,
I sat all alone
I stared at the screen
wondering what I could say
To bring many smiles
on this wonderful day
But try as I might
my mind just couldn’t think
Of something for Christmas
to put down in ink
So I sprang from my chair
and I caused such a clatter
My neighbors called out
“Hey Chris, what’s the matter”
“It’s Christmas,” they shouted
as snow starts to fall
“A time to spread kindness
to one and to all”
When then, like a sled
moving quickly downhill
I got an idea
Of a way to fulfill
I ran to the keyboard
and started to tap
Before settling down
for a long winter’s nap
My fingers were nimble,
like reindeer they flew
To type out this message
so long overdue
For all of the poets
I’ve been lucky to meet
Who write so amazing,
leave comments so sweet
So here are the words
I decided to say
Merry Christmas dear Soupers
have a great holiday
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Soupers
I hope the holidays bring you much happiness and joy
and you are surrounded by love
I will be away for the holiday, so I will see you again next Monday
For the Ho, ho, ho, poetry contest
Sponsored by: Eve Roper
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas, friendship, fun,
Form:
Rhyme
The Gift of Christmas
Some people say Christmas in this present time
Wanders lost
Through flashing ads and tinsel carelessly strung
On an artificial bough.
Some people say the Spirit of Christmas
Lives no more -
The simple Christ Child’s birth
Coldly mocked by glittering commercials
For diamond rings and robot toys.
Some say our plastic credit cards
Bring shame to one, who, born so poor,
Wore no fancy clothes
Or even slept in a cradle of his own.
Some say a Christian world forgets
The simple song of angel praise and shepherd lambs
In hustle crowds who only hum
Atonal harmony in green cash jingles
Some people say that Christ remains absent
From our Christmas celebrations
So lost we get in buying –
So drunk we get with wine.
Yet, I see his star rise up again
In children’s faith, eyes aglow with awe,
Reflecting wonder back into the darkest night
The miracle of the Christmas story.
I watch a callous world
Retell Nativity
Then remember little acts of kindness
From a neighbor, or a friend,
In homemade thank you cards
Of cookies, cakes or ornaments.
The Yuletide air overflows with scents of sugarplums -
Pungent cloves, nutmeg sweet
And aromatic cinnamon -
A gift of time given to baking memories
In sweet spice with children.
Music fills the world again,
To herald
Carols dancing in our hearts,
“Joy to the world!” the lyrics say,
“Joy to the world! The Lord has come!”
Each year I watch the world
Stretch out a loving hand of help
To strangers shivering in the cold,
To those who live alone -
To ones with rags for clothes
And families who face each day
Empty cupboard shelves –
Whose children would be strangers
To the joy of Christmas morn
If not for hearts and hands
Of women and of men
Who bring the Magi’s gifts to poverty again.
I see this cynical world
So closely guard the spirit of this time
A world of Santa Claus’ asks no gratitude
For countless days of aching feet
Crowded streets
And traffic jams.
Their love returns a hundredfold,
Through smiles and gasps of childlike glee,
To nestle beneath boughs of evergreen
When the dawning light opens up the givers joy
Spreading across a silent world
A message sprung from hope’s own heart
Born with a baby boy.
12-2-22
Contest: Christmas Spirit Poetry
Sponsor: Regina McIntosh
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas,
Form:
Free verse
Children playing in the snow.
Up and down the hills they go.
Grownups watching like a show.
Knowing soon to church they'll go.
Jingling bells so loud and clear.
Ring so loud they wake the deer.
Santa's coming soon they know.
In his sleigh across the snow.
Now get ready kids to go.
Bed is waiting as you know.
Optional Ending:
Tired and weary, cold and numb.
Visions dance like Sugarplums.
Thanks to Deborah Guzzi for suggesting the last line
This is sung to the tune of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
For the contest Holiday Songs in Poem Form by Deborah Guzzi
Categories:
sugarplums, childhood, holiday, son, song-lyric
Form:
Rhyme
Morning time...waking with sweets in my mouth
cinnamon carameltmarshmellowed out
breakfast cereal Sugar Dynamite
secret prize inside,bestows x-ray sight
Sugar shock,tooth rot,'60s psycotropic lollipops
an infinite selection @ Treat's Sweetshop
its addictive candy flavors
improves moods and bad behavior
beware of its dangers
sugar rush overdose and hypereality at most
Peanutbrittle,jawbreakers,misfortune cookie riddles
limesours with saccarine middles
crispycreams filled my mouth
multi-colored jelly beans,sweet and sour insideout
Chocolate candy bars filled the candy jars
cinnamon coal pepper scorchers
mouth and stomach torture
jellied fruit medley,candied vomit,flavor bliss
oatmeal crisps and spicey comets
cool peppermints sooth
my tongue stuck to sticky tarts stronger than glue
Sugared hyper,spoiled rotten
the last flavor blast,gone not forgotten
Narcotic treats penny gag sweets
firecracker gum
blistering flaming lip smackers
and moldy sugarplums
Blue cotton candy,caramel dandies,gingersnaps
assorted sugared snacks,
bubblegum taffy stale rotten candy
are tough chewing tasks
the good stuff in my secret stash:
vanilla cream mashed between two oatmeal cookies
even tried vegan fruikies
my heart's desire...
spent several days sugar wired...still ain't tired
When tastebuds crave an everlasting taste
even toothpaste's nothing to waste
suck,never chew hot swallows in haste
found tastebud relief
gulped this 32oz. blizzard
topped with chopped strawberry twizzlers
Nighttimes mean euphoric wake dreams
cool whipped creamed baked desserts
milkshakes quenched my sugar thirst
Next an ice cream brainfreeze sprinkled with the works,
Ate three slices of icecream cake unthawed,
and an entire carton of chocolate marshmellow smorgasborgs
smothered in toffee fudge crunch and caramel popcorn munch
Baked treats make each morning time sublime
Sugared creamed pastries cake sweet
Saccarine cereal tastes surreal
Chocolate sprinkled ,vanilla milkshakes
completes morning meal
Then the entire day of sugar shock toothrot
indulgence at Treat 's Sweet Shop
Categories:
sugarplums, imagination, candy, morning,
Form:
Narrative
Continued from Part 1....
I ran downstairs to catch a glimpse of his face,
Just as he came down, out of the fireplace,
He was cloaked in red with a fur trimmed suit,
And covered in soot from his hat to his boot,
A large sack full of presents he carried along,
He opened it up as he hummed a Christmas song,
With much merriment his blue eyes twinkled,
His face was joyful, and yet somewhat wrinkled,
His cheeks were blushed like the berries in holly,
His snow white beard was long and quite jolly,
From his pipe came out a great puff of smoke,
He began his work and not a word he spoke,
Santa Claus was tall, with a belly quite round,
And his laughter was a most glorious sound,
I looked on with glee as a smile crossed my face,
When he approached and gave me a warm embrace,
Then, Santa placed several gifts beneath our tree,
Something for the children, and Father, and me,
He filled the stockings with sugarplums and a toy,
Which I know will delight my little girl and boy,
The midnight hour on the mantel clock chimed,
He turned, then back up the chimney he climbed,
With a whistle he signaled for his reindeer to go,
And away they flew with a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!",
Before disappearing Santa exclaimed from his sleigh,
"To all a good night and a Happy Christmas Day!".
This was going to be an entry for Debbie Guzzi's "Santa Claus" contest.
Unfortunately, it was too long to fit all into one poem. So, I am posting it as two parts.
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas, eve, fantasy, tribute,
Form:
Rhyme
Rays of sugarplums dance in the sun.
Children’s laughter was heard and enjoyed.
We should teach them to relish life while they are young.
Lights are dancing in the twilight.
A bright smile beams from across the room.
Teenagers’ embraced as they cabaret the dance floor.
Scurry a cat under the disco ball.
The elder sashayed to discourage this fiasco.
Contentment and joy was hearkened.
Joseph, Moses, and John
Mary, Maria, and Joyce
Three boys and three girls
Socialization took face.
You could overhear family telling about their generations.
The connections they made were quite amazing.
____________________________________|
PENNED ON JULY 26, 2014!
Categories:
sugarplums, america, appreciation, best friend,
Form:
Personification
Big brothers, big sisters, many of whom
Had never heard the sound of children's laughter
Opening presents on Christmas morn
Planned a summer outing to a local theater
On July First, for children from ages six to thirteen
The curtain rose on a Midsummer Night's Dream
Pip, true to character, eyes shone with wonder
And nary a child's dream could be put asunder
As fairies danced astage like sugarplums through toddlers' heads
Especially the youngest, these children of single parents
Never exposed to Shakespearean delights in an enchanted forest
Like Santas we felt bestowing culture to a captivated audience
Hoping this Christmas in July would grant them a sense of permanence
All children deserve to feel such love and faith in visions magical
With love among forest sprites and poetry of dreams fantastical
Stopping for ice cream floats on the evening ride home
A nine year old with a fairy wand turned her friend into a gnome
And for a brief time these blessed children forgot their broken homes
The fathers or mothers who'd left them behind made no curtain calls
For children inspired by Shakespeare's fire could light up any hall
So they dashed away, pranced away, danced away all
As the bus ride came to a halt
The cultural presence that sprang from their hearts
Would outlive any gifts from Santa Clause
It was more than a deed done for a good cause
For one evening at least they had something more
Than children who lived in mansions
They'd shared beauty and grace
Gifts beyond most youngsters' comprehension
From strangers who did not through chimneys drop
Nor offer explanation
Great tidings of cheer that filled children's ears
Brought such jubilation
Big brothers and sisters needed no whiskers to beam with joy overcome
And yet as we disembarked and sent each sleepy child home
A familiar train, deer and sleigh, seemed to streak across the moon
The true spirit of Christmas on July First had made its presence known
Categories:
sugarplums, holidaychildren, christmas, children, christmas,
Form:
Lyric
Domestic beer and cheap cigars
inflame my lyric flare,
spark my anxious urge
to create something readable,
splurge into visions of sugarplums,
flights of pure fancy, till I have a
poem distilled in my brain.
The struggle to articulate
is pure and simple pleasure,
making mountains out of molehills
and silk purses from sows' ears,
perched at my computer
with my dreams and foolish wishes.
So I'll smoke another stogie,
free a beer from the refrigerator,
write another silly verse to share
with who knows whom;
I'll keep shunning good nutrition
and be grateful to my muse
'til they lay me cold and lifeless in my tomb!
Categories:
sugarplums, funny,
Form:
Verse
It’s Christmas Eve
And all through the house
Not a creature is sleeping
Not even a mouse
The stockings still hanging
Are empty and bare
It’s just a sign that dear Santa
Still hasn’t been there
Dad’s in the living room
All full of good cheer
And mum’s in the kitchen
Checking turkey juices are clear
The kids are all hyper
And won’t go to their beds
It must be the sugarplums
Dancing round in their heads
Gran’s in her nightie
And I’m in mine too
We’re watching Polar Express
The second time through
But out in the garden
We heard such a clatter
So we all ran to the window
To see what was the matter
And there in the darkness
Spread out on the lawn
Was dear Uncle Albert
Seven parts gone
And lying around him
Was our Christmas display
He mustn’t have seen it
And tripped over the sleigh
So now all the reindeer
Are broken in bits
And we stood at the window
In hysterical fits
No Prancer, no Dancer
No Doner, no Blitzen
Nor Comet, or Cupid
Or Dasher, or Vixen
Dear Uncle Albert
He righted himself
With some help from my gran
And a little bit from myself
We all headed inside
To turn in for the night
I snuggled under my duvet
And switched off the light
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas, funny, christmas, christmas,
Form:
Rhyme
Breathing softly in my bed,
Visions of sugarplums, in my head.
Shadows hovering in the night,
Soul awakens, to take flight.
But, I won't scream.
Told not to scream.
Rough hands groping below my head,
Rough lips seeking to be fed.
No one knows this young child's plight,
Dad's embrace she must now fight.
But, must not scream.
No, I won't scream.
A single tear upon my face,
I grit my teeth, I know my place.
I leave my body, so small and light,
A five year old can still take flight.
But, I won't scream.
No, I won't scream.
.
There is no pain, where now I go.
I'm flying now, he hurts me so.
I'm just a child, why can't he see,
He's hurting something deep in me?
But, I don't scream.
I just can't scream.
The weight is something, no child should bare
Seems rough hands are just everywhere.
But, souls have wings, this much I know,
To fly away from realms below.
Cause there I scream.
YES, THERE I SCREAM!
The stars inside, the bleakest night,
I know I lost, this final fight.
My body's racked ,with so much pain,
My soul doesn't wish to return again.
And, now it screams.
A silent scream.
I look to see a face I know,
But, he's now a stranger, I want to go.
No longer free to be a child.
No longer free to have a smile.
Can no longer scream,
I just cant' scream.
Unending screams...
By Regina Newton (c)2013
Categories:
sugarplums, abuse, betrayal, childhood, dark,
Form:
Rhyme
Green and
Blue blotches
With no reason
Nor rhyme.
Racing, like
Purple chainsaws
Dancing through my head
Like sugarplums
At Christmas time.
Cross-eyed acrobats
Jumping through
Twisted rings of
Nothing at all.
Feels like I'm
Falling and cracking
Anxiously, like
Humpty Dumpty
Off the wall.
Lies, deceit, and honor
All hide underneath
A woven blanket
Of disbelief.
I
Can't
Find
Truth.
I can no longer
Find innocence.
I can no longer
Tell what's good for me
None of this is making sense!
Eyes on
The clock...
Bodies on
The floor...
Making some
Sense again
With the shelves
Back in stock,
And more guests at the door.
Here we go again.
I rise,
I twist,
I run,
I leap,
But I am
Getting nowhere.
Can't die,
But can't seem
To get my hand
Off my gun.
Are you lying
Or winning
Or losing
Or stealing?
You say
These things until
My head
Won't stop spinning.
Friends
Roses
Walls
Shoes!
Make some
Sense of
All this fusion!
Now you can
Taste my medicine,
Just one
Dose of
My confusion.
Categories:
sugarplums, confusion, life, love, people,
Form:
Lyric
I saw surreal scenes at the mall:
unhinged shoppers in a hot brawl,
a tired Santa running
away--I'm not funning!--
pursued by kids starting to squall.
I finished my shopping and fled.
The visions that danced in my head
were sugarplums? No way!
So ended my rough day.
I rushed home and went right to bed.
November 30, 2018, entered in Carolyn Devonshire's Christmas
Limericks Contest
Categories:
sugarplums, christmas, confusion,
Form:
Limerick
Imported beer and fingernails
inflame my lyric flare,
spark my anxious urge
to create something quotable,
splurge into visions of sugarplums,
flights of pure fancy, 'til I have a
poem distilled in my brain.
The struggle to articulate's
an agonizing process,
making mountains out of molehills
and silk purses from sows' ears,
perched at my computer
with my dreams and foolish wishes.
So I'll chew another fingernail,
free a beer from the refrigerator,
write another witty verse to share
with who knows whom.
I'll keep shunning good nutrition
and be grateful to my muse
'til they lay me cold and lifeless in my tomb!
Categories:
sugarplums, humorous,
Form:
Verse
Halloween night is supposed to be scary
Peopled by spooks and goblins, most of them hairy
But where I come from it's quite festive and merry
Sugarplums dancing, accompanied by faeries
Then there's the time-honored custom of trick-or-treating
'Course, as any trick-or-treater will tell you, it's all in the eating
But where I'm from we dispense with the preliminaries
Just one thing on our itinerary -- confectioneries
Now as to the matter of witches on broomsticks, cackling high overhead
And the spirits and ghosts that allegedly rise up from the dead
We don't subcribe to that spooky nonsense
What we do is burn incense and sniff frankincense
Not to leave out the garish jack-o-lanterns' macabre grins
The eerie haunted houses with their swinging skeletons
Sorry to disappoint you, but we simply dispense with that stuff
~ In our nudist colony, where tradition's remade in the buff
October 23, 2018
Categories:
sugarplums, halloween, night, scary,
Form:
Rhyme