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Poetry Magnum Opus

Saint Nicholas


Aleksandra

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The poor table is set with beans and some fish.

It doesn't even need anything else.

It's you for whom we wait.

Let's kiss this grandpa

who waits for his dinner with holy eyes.

We will serve the dinner, he will give us joy.

Leave a prayer instead of money at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them.

 

The door is open. Come, if you are hungry,

or if you love me. There is not much

but beans, and fish, and holy bread.

  • Like 1

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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Alex,

 

It's a loving poem, full of kindness and a bit of mocking in the lines:

 

Leave a prayer instead of money at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them

 

Thank you for the friendliness.

 

Lake

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  • 2 weeks later...
Another lovely one and perfect for the occasion. Happy Saint Nicholas Day, Aleksandra. I wish I was there.

 

Tony

 

Ah Tony. Thank you for the refering to the occasion of this poem. St. Nicholas day is our home celebration as to many Macedonian families. I wish you were here also and I am sure you would like the served food then, knowing you as vegetarian :).

 

Alex,

 

It's a loving poem, full of kindness and a bit of mocking in the lines:

 

Leave a prayer instead of money at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them

 

Thank you for the friendliness.

 

Lake

 

Thank you Lake, for your comment also. I'm glad you liked this poem.

 

Happy New Year, to all.

 

Aleksandra

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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  • 6 months later...
Larsen M. Callirhoe

Tony i was a vegetarian for two years. i hope you eat nuts and frankin beans lol. aleks a blessed moment. oh maybe i shouldve never taken a break. but my poetry has improved a 1000 fold.

 

victor

Larsen M. Callirhoe

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  • 5 months later...

Thank you, Tony. You are so thoughtful :). I don't have bunch of occasional poems, so I am glad I wrote this one. Thank you!

 

Aleksandra

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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What a warm, welcoming festive note in your poem, Aleksandra! :

 

The door is open. Come, if you are hungry,

or if you love me. There is not much

but beans, and fish, and holy bread.

 

 

Good idea, Tony refreshing this post in time of the festive celebrations.

goldenlangur

 

 

Even a single enemy is too many and a thousand friends too few - Bhutanese saying.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you my friends for reading this poem again. We really do put out a plate of food for this saint, and we really do invite St. Nicholas for supper, of course in a symbolical way. We serve some kind of lean food - no meat other than fish, and no fats.

 

Aleksandra

 

 

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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This is a very fine poem. Perhaps just a tiny bit too wordy. A word or two is on the cutesy side. Do you mean dziadzia? (elderly man)

 

The poor table is set with beans and some fish. Why say poor? The description tells us it is simple, unpretentious.

It doesn't even need anything else. "Even" is a word begging for comparison. Why?

It's you for whom we wait.

Let's kiss this grandpa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Why not that Grandpa. Who are the other Grandpa's?

who waits for his dinner with holly eyes. ??Holly is a plant!

We will serve the dinner. He will give us joy.

Leave a prayer, instead of money, at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them.

The door is open. Come, if you are hungry,

or if you love me. There is not much,

but beans, and fish, and holy bread.

 

I love those two last lines in the first stanza. Forgive me, but I cannot resist simple editing when a poem is this good.

Edited by waxwings
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Leave a prayer instead of money at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them.

 

Perfect!! Cuts right through the nonsense. Do you also (with Serbia and Russia) have your Christmas on January 6??

 

Oh ... Happy New Year! Athbhliann faoi mhaise dhuit, mo chara!!

 

Breandán

Edited by dedalus

Drown your sorrows in drink, by all means, but the real sorrows can swim

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Oh Aleks, I didn't read this last year so I am grateful Tony refreshed it. I love the sentiment. It is joyful and carries the true spirit of the season. I just returned from my son's where we celebrated Epiphany on Jan 6, the 12th day of Christmas, supposedly the day the Wise men arrived bearing gifts. I think I like it more than Christmas Day which has become so commercial. St Nicholas is celebrated here on December 6, but usually is only a quiet acknowledgement of the saint at daily mass. It shows up on my Cathoic calendar. I think after reading your poem I will be paying more attention to the day. I love the truth of your poem which I want to pass on to my grandchildren who so easily get caught up in Santa Claus and lists of presents.

 

~~Tink

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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This is a very fine poem. Perhaps just a tiny bit too wordy. A word or two is on the cutesy side. Do you mean dziadzia? (elderly man)

 

Hi, waxwings. I don't know what dziadzia means?! Could you explain it to me?

I like your edits.

 

The poor table is set with beans and some fish. Why say poor? The description tells us it is simple, unpretentious.

 

Don't you think that by saying poor, the narrator could be referring to a table that is usually poor but is now rich and different because it has something? :)

 

It doesn't even need anything else. "Even" is a word begging for comparison. Why?

You are right. Even is not necessary. I just used it for more power, and I may change it.

 

Let's kiss this grandpa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Why not that Grandpa. Who are the other Grandpa's?

I will leave this grandpa, because I talk about Nicholas, and if I say that grandpa, it could mean that the grandpa is not here yet. And yes, there are other grandpas.

 

who waits for his dinner with holly eyes. ??Holly is a plant!

 

Yes you are right. I made a spelling mistake. I already changed it. I did mean holy.

 

We will serve the dinner. He will give us joy.

Leave a prayer, instead of money, at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them.

The door is open. Come, if you are hungry,

or if you love me. There is not much,

but beans, and fish, and holy bread.

 

I love those two last lines in the first stanza. Forgive me, but I cannot resist simple editing when a poem is this good.

 

Thank you for your help. I appreciate it. I am glad you like this poem.

 

Aleksandra

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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Leave a prayer instead of money at the church.

The priests wouldn't like that,

but God will laugh at them.

 

Perfect!! Cuts right through the nonsense. Do you also (with Serbia and Russia) have your Christmas on January 6??

 

Oh ... Happy New Year! Athbhliann faoi mhaise dhuit, mo chara!!

 

Breandán

 

:) Thank you Bren, mo chara! Yes, our Christmas is actually on January 7th. And Jan.6th is our Christmas Eve. We call it - Badnik, and have some traditional customs. And, like Serbia and Russia, Macedonia is an Orthodox country.

 

Aleksandra

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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Oh Aleks, I didn't read this last year so I am grateful Tony refreshed it. I love the sentiment. It is joyful and carries the true spirit of the season. I just returned from my son's where we celebrated Epiphany on Jan 6, the 12th day of Christmas, supposedly the day the Wise men arrived bearing gifts. I think I like it more than Christmas Day which has become so commercial. St Nicholas is celebrated here on December 6, but usually is only a quiet acknowledgement of the saint at daily mass. It shows up on my Cathoic calendar. I think after reading your poem I will be paying more attention to the day. I love the truth of your poem which I want to pass on to my grandchildren who so easily get caught up in Santa Claus and lists of presents.

 

~~Tink

 

Thank you, Tinker. I am glad you like this poem, and I think it's a great idea that you plan to reinforce to your grandkids the religious importance of these holidays.

 

Aleksandra

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth - Jean Cocteau

History of Macedonia

 

 

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