Warm And Safe

The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much. - Thoreau

their heat nearly spent

yuletide embers snuggle together to keep alive

outside snow is falling

inside love has spread wide its patchwork quilt

there's a star atop the tree

i did not place it there

i lie down to slumber this christmas eve

free of shame

free of guilt

Author's Note

“Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame. ” - Thoreau

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

one for me to tape on the bathroom mirror .. Warm and Safe indeed .. and your poem breathes that into flame as i read it ... the best two closing lines i have read so far this morning .. here at the Cafe' ... the cleansing of our guilt and shame is a healing surpassed by no other .. Christ's birth and our celebration of it offers those freedoms like none other .. i am blessed in reading your poem .. the flow is smooth .. progression of thought leads to a wondrous moment of forgiveness and cleansing ..well done says i!
E.

[Pete]

wow e. nothing like it. christmas is hope not amazon packages at our doorsteps. thank you for your warm, receptive soul. blessings your way ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

You took me back to Christmas when I was a child. When it was all about the birth of Christ. Long before it became the monster of commercialism that it is today. Thank you for the sheer beauty and meaning on your words Pete. All good wishes.

Chris

[Pete]

when the holidays arrive i am always taken back to childhood. simpler times i guess where things held their meaning more closely ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, whatever happened to the real meaning, the real spirit of Christmas.
This reminded me of my youth...I didn't know enough to have guilt...or shame.
And Christmas meant the tree, candles in the window, a feeling like no other.
Not the amount spent....or package of commercialism all wrapped up in a gold bow.
excellent write ....tells a story, but has a sharp theme.
j.

[Pete]

putting the candles in the windows was one of my favorite things, loved turning them on each night. the good ole days. i try to hold onto that feeling of excitement and anticipation but gets harder as the years go by. reminder that not all gifts come wrapped under a tree ... :)

[John the Baptist]

A brief work that says much here. A peaceful Christmas scene is pictured. There is love inside, despite the outward snowstorm. That love heals the speaker of shame and guilt. As it says, love never faileth.

[Pete]

the greatest gift of all j. the b. and you won't find it at walmart ... :)

[barleygirl]

The last 2 lines make this a startling statement for me. I was reading thru thinking this to be another collection of someone's warm-fuzzy holiday scenario, but then you shock the crap out of me by saying something I don't think I've ever heard anyone say about things it takes to feel contentment. I am so many decades beyond guilt & shame (after overdosing on it in my childhood), it shocks me to even consider it as part of any equation in my life. But then I have to consider all the people who are walking whirlwinds of guilt & shame, so I know you're on to something here! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

hmm. i think we all have more in common than we realize or are willing to admit and you won't find it gift-wrapped under a tree in a cover-up. a sincere hug can go a long way (around the world and back again). blessing your way this holiday season margie ... :)

[sette]

what an admirable use of words symbolizing what christmas should be inspite of the many struggles in life there is one thing to look forward to the comfort of what christmas can bring

[Pete]

thank you sette for kind thoughts this holiday season. better to look forward than back ... :)

[andrew mitchell]

How those who have lived alone value love. Nice write Pete. Tough on the homeless, poor souls.

[Pete]

there's a part of us in all such people. we're always one step away and must not let go of our humility and concern ... :)