Humble Flame of Welcome

A Choka poem for Christmas

one single candle flickers in kitchen’s window symbol of welcome a Christmas Eve tradition guiding the Christ Child to our home with humble light we prepare our hearts unworthy yet healed by grace we cherish your presence here

The tradition of placing a lit candle in the kitchen window on Christmas Eve traces back to ancient customs of providing a guiding light for weary travelers seeking shelter, and it symbolizes the anticipation of welcoming the Christ Child. It embodies the spirit of hospitality, echoing the biblical story of the Holy Family seeking refuge and signifying the warmth and hope associated with the birth of Jesus Christ during the festive season.

To all of my Medium friends of all faiths, I want to wish you peace as 2023 comes to a close. May this holiday season be filled with love, laughter, and good cheer.

A note on poetic form: Robert Lee Brewer, writing for Writer’s Digest, describes the choka as:

…a Japanese poetic form with a variable length that follows these guidelines:

Five syllables in the odd-numbered lines (line one, three, five, etc.)

Seven syllables in the even-numbered lines (line two, four, six, etc.)

Finishes with two consecutive seven-syllable lines

As with other Japanese poetic forms, the choka does not typically rhyme or have rules on meter.

Thank you to the editors of Reader’s Hope, especially Surekha Chandrasekhar, who has always supported me and my efforts.

If you would like to submit to Reader’s Hope, Dr Mehmet Yildiz (Tech) presents the guidelines below: