2025th Christmas

Anniversary celebrations

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We sat, the five of us, at table, on

the night before, and played the Five Crowns game.

Reminded me of Magi who did more, 

though Anne had travelled something like the same.

And I recalled Paul Kelly’s songs which tell:

“From little things, Big things grow”, & then recalled

nine months before the baby, there’s one cell.

When life & growing’s nurtured, we don’t “fall”..

fall down, but can grow up (though I feel flat, 

and immature, & babyish, to boot.

I’ve seen so many children grow like that -

when in a world where love has taken root,

and then’s acknowledged, though we mightn't feel

too able to conveigh it through just words,

it’s sometimes just a nod, a sign, a meal,

a showing up, a lead in Way  Forwards*).

A fam’ly in a distant place contacts,

by video and says “Hello” & greets,

& shows some tables set, and too relax-

es while they wait for others in their streets.

Then there’s the baby girl whose birthday is..

(first anni-ver-sar-y is).. on today;

we rang and sang and said Hello to this 

whole fam’ly. Then both “Merry Christmas!” say.

Since celebrating great things often will

involve our lowly animal nature,

we celebrate with food (and swim) & swill;

So “wise and harmless” source, we celebrate ya!

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*  Thinking of many things: 

• The Shepherd, by Fredrick Forsythe as told by Al "Fireside" Maitland; 

• the claim for the babe whose birth is celebrated at Christmas, and whose claimed identity gives rise to its name.

• ..

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