In the Wake of Christmas

Summary

The text reflects on the transformation of Christmas celebrations over time, from a period of high anticipation and elaborate preparation to a more subdued and reflective occasion.

Abstract

The poem "In the Wake of Christmas" contemplates the evolution of the holiday season, contrasting the past with the present. It describes the fervent activities leading up to Christmas, such as buying gifts, sending cards, and attending events, all contributing to a sense of urgency and the pursuit of holiday magic. The author reminisces about the intense preparations and the communal spirit that once made the holiday's approach feel momentous. However, as years pass and loved ones are lost, the narrator observes a personal shift towards a quieter celebration, valuing simplicity and the poignant memories of past Christmases. The poem suggests that with age, the necessity for grand festivities wanes, and one finds contentment in the serene recollection of bygone joyous chaos.

Opinions

The author nostalgically recalls the heightened anticipation and extensive preparations that once characterized the Christmas season.
There is a sense of loss and change as the narrator acknowledges the absence of those who once shared in the holiday traditions.
The poem conveys a transition from the need for extravagant celebrations to appreciating the quieter, reflective aspects of Christmas.
The author expresses that with time, the approach of the holiday becomes less about the events themselves and more about the memories they evoke and the personal growth they represent.
The text suggests that the significance of Christmas evolves from a time of "breathless uproar" to one of peaceful remembrance and acceptance of life's changes.

A found poem considering the ghosts of Christmases past

In time gone, when the big house filled With children and food and the breath of relatives Marking together the sparkling zenith of Days and weeks set apart

All for the purpose of coiling a sense Of urgency, of expectation, Limned with brightness glowing or garish, The annual yearning toward magic

And belief that it could be. So much to Be done, I would start months ahead Hoping to manage the spiraling build Toward that one day

Gifts purchased and hidden, cards Addressed and stamped, dates held In reserve for parties and visits, school programs, The ritual drive to witness the lights

Displayed to render sacred the ordinary. The stakes were once so high And inescapable, insistent music everywhere A goad toward action

All effort mounting to the singularity That swept each of us into our ordained spaces, Hosts or guests, keepers of the feast, Children with fevered eyes whirling in the midst.

Years remake us, advancing us to the spaces Once taken by those we lose. Sons grown To manhood, parents and lovers vanishing behind Us, ourselves continually surprised

At what we’re becoming. Meanwhile, things Calm down. We are satisfied with tokens, quiet days, And the memory of breathless uproar, noting How so much becomes simpler as mystery approaches.