"2025 Christmastime Collab(?)"

I was asked this year, but this time it doesn't 'feel' like it did.

“2025 Christmas Collab(?)"

"Our cultures and morality are different; 

peace, hope, empathy hold places 

in our minds and hearts - 

we must love and trust to the future.”  

=  24 words.  

Chris, ancient117331, USA

 

24 minus 6 = 18.  I'm sad to be limited to 18 words to express a relationship to and between 6 words chosen by another to relate my sense of worldview about this reoccurring event across the world stage.  I feel let down and that is a shame.

 

Take care EM ...and Owl(?) 

- the previous years WERE collabs THIS isn't something freely participated in and hence meaning-full.

 

Chris

 

 A Poem by emmajoygreen

 

Unity from around the world PLEASE join your friends and .. strangers who might be more than happy and willing to become your friends! 

JOIN OUR EIGHTEENTH GLOBAL COLLABORATION at Writers Cafe!

 

Are you ready to share your voice in our holiday collaboration of hope and unity?

 

We invite you to submit 4 lines of POETRY OR PROSE (24 words maximum) that include the words: 

World..  Peace..  Love..  Trust..  Empathy..  Future.

 

Entry Dates: Now - December 10

 

To celebrate the diversity of voices across the globe, please include:

Your country AND the Username you’d like connected to your poem.

 

Comment on this note with your entry or send it directly to emmajoygreen or Craig - Owl.

Quite soon (see the date above),  Owl will weave all submissions together into a shared post for everyone to enjoy.

 

Let’s create a beautiful tapestry of hope, empathy, and unity this December one voice at a time, many hearts together.

© 2025 emmajoygreen

 

Author's Note

sigh

Reviews

[Zombified Spider]

Perhaps this is just my take on this as a student, but I find poems that I have to write on a theme with a word and line limit that have to have several words contained within it challenging and therefore fun (except for sonnets, I hate those). I'm sure, as a published poet or professional poet, you may find that annoying. No shade thrown. Poetry is about expressing oneself, and I'm very sorry that these are your feelings towards this. much love, ZS

[Chris]

Nods. Again, no hazing nor personal ding. We each have our own 'takes' (viewpoints, perceptions). Responding to any type of puzzle challenge can be interesting and/or fun - if that is your thing. But, when an author/poet is providing something that is truly and completely defining their self it is not the same thing.

I think WE all like games that can challenge our skills and abilities, but games are seldom meant to reflect our actual social and personal mindsets to others - especially when it is you HAVING to respond to a thought-provoking prompt while using specific multiple words within a truly total allowed low word count, all of which are mandated by the same other person(s). The end results (of many people responding) tends to display cookie-cutter type works (statements actually) that don't really present original content that actually reflects each author's/poet's personal response to the provided theme.

I am not saying for a collaboration - to not provide a theme, nor a word count limit. I am saying play a GAME however you want, but collaborations are not games - they are personal content. Do not tell an author/poet what words to use - EVER (in a Collab or their particular writings). Our words must be OUR choice, not anyone else's.

Chris

[Green]

I understand your frustration. I think the Cafe wide collabs are fun (for those who choose to participate) but they’ve always felt a little… cliquish to me. No one on here is friends with everybody; therefore, someone is always excluded and that feels hypocritical on something like this in particular.

[Chris]

Chuckling here, I am NOT hazing or dinging you. And lord knows - this cafe has MANY cliques, but I have never personally known Em to exclude any poet from submitting a stanza for the Christmas Collab.

The Christmas collabs are meant to empower everyone here to express their personal thoughts and all are invited to join in and share. My hit here, is that this year they GAVE the words they wanted to be expressed and I took exception (and continue to take exception) to EVER being directed as to what MY content HAS to say and the words with which I must use to say it. Word use challenges are a socially recognized puzzle challenge for writers to take on to show word use skills. To me, that writing becomes no more than a copycat version of another's thoughts. ...And that is my concern for every poet at the Cafe and elsewhere.

There being so many poets here, there are always some that don't get the word setting the date(s) for submission. But, as I have said, I've never known anyone that submitted a stanza that was not included.

I respect EM and owl and know they believe in and work hard toward providing the Cafe and its poets with an equal platform to regularly express the poet's thoughts. I have willingly provided a stanza expressing my personal thoughts in the past seasons. But this season - I took and shall always take a personal exception to a "Word Challenge".

Chris

[Green]

No I know you're not and I did completely understand the point you were making. Especially with a 24 word limit (which that part makes sense to me, some people would take 24 pages to express their point and that won't work with multiple contributors), cherry picking specific words means that you're going to run out of new ideas very quickly.

I am speaking out of my personal experience and knowledge, however, that there are absolutely some people that are excluded and cannot participate.

[Chris]

Well, hello and welcome to Writer's Cafe` and I'm sure you'll fit in here quite well.

[emmajoygreen]

Chris, I feel so sorry and ashamed to read how disappointed you were/are about collaboration 2025.

Craig Froman/(Owl) and I have always tried to incorporate everything we hope to be helpful for any- and everyone wanting to join the annual collaboration. In order for us to invite collaborators by a given time, usually three weeks or more - plus Craig to put all the offerings into alphabetical order, takes care. We've always tried to show that care!

Please, please pass on suggestions for this year's collab' please. Meantime, wishing you whatever you wish for your self, family and friends, sir.

[Chris]

Em,

Set a theme to collaborate upon as you will. Restrict word count for a collab however you want. BUT, do NOT order a collab pardner to use someone else's choice of words for them to express their personal thoughts (or a message for distribution). We ARE Poets. These are OUR words and thoughts.

Personally, I am neither a parrot, nor a thoughtless, typing monkey. As a rule, I don't do word use challenges. They have ALWAYS come across, to me, as a game - not as a creative, dynamic work with which to personally express my thoughts, concerns, observations, desires, or wishes. I did this ONE (specifically), this one time, because YOU asked me to, but I will not do another.

You and owl want real thoughts and (my/our) personal hopes for a unified vision of humanity during a season of social and religious significance. THAT is of import to me (and should be to any that respond) to participate. Give me and others the chance to rise to such an occasion when and as WE will.

Take care, be safe,

Chris

[emmajoygreen]

Thank you for such a full explanation.

There have been eighteen Cafe collaborations and yours is the first criticism. Perhaps it's best we stop them.

Hope you take care and keep safe, sir.

[Chris]

I did not say to stop... I SAID to not provide the words you WANT to hear used and let the Poets use their own words. And if you have to take exception to my answer providing a suggestion for which YOU just asked, accept my public apology.

"I apologize Emma, was not my intent to anger or seemingly deride."

I will take care and you be safe.
Chris

[ETERNITY]

oh, Chris, yes, sigh.
I've read this when it first was posted but did not have your addition.
It's a lovely Collab.
Hugs.

[J.J. NIGHTINGALE]

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