Temple Cloud

Shop signs declare: ‘All your festive favourites here!’   Adverts claim: ‘Christmas – [supermarket sponsoring this advert] makes it.’   To me, this seems unlikely, unless the shop contains not only a midnight Communion service, but also sufficient faith in God to keep me sure that Christmas is good news.   Or, if they can’t do anything about my spiritual state, will they at least host a Carnival Band carol concert with Maddy Prior singing ‘Dancing Day’?   (Nope – she’s touring with Steeleye Span this winter.) Apart from religious celebrations and giving to good causes, most of us have things that make us feel festive at Christmas, and these usually have less to do with buying lots of new stuff than listening to (or performing) our favourite Christmas music, re-watching favourite films, and re-reading favourite books.   Some of my well-loved books are: Christmas Poems by U. A. Fanthorpe This collection of the short poems which Fanthorpe wrote for her home-made Christmas ca

Winter Expedition Now the road’s a frozen river And I’ve neither skates nor ski. But I’ve presents to deliver And a friend I long to see. Proudly I set off, and, falling, Lie upon a road like glass; Struggle to my feet, and, crawling, Head towards the frozen grass. Rich and poor and feet and motors Share the middle of the road, All intrepid winter-coaters Where no timid souls have strode. Slipping, sliding, skating, gliding, Laughing, waving, falling down, Thank you, winter, for providing Thrills in walking into town! The Poet And The Thrush Poet of depressing views Switches off the morning news, Tries to raise a jolly smile: Festive season, Dickens-style.   Through the piles of snow and slush Hops a festive starving thrush, Wet, bedraggled, and forlorn, Pecking at the frozen lawn. ‘That’s my Christmas buggered, then!’ Poet growls, and grabs his pen, Writes how joy is mixed with woe, Plenty with starvati