It is the time for holiday magic after all. No matter what we celebrate or not, this time of the year lends itself to some kind of holiday magic for everyone. As for our family, the festivities of this season, especially those around Christmas are borrowed ones. I still recall that first mini-ornaments set I purchased over two decades ago at a Michaels near where we lived then. This was way before we had kids; I was thrilled with the prospect of decorating my very first Christmas tree and my DH loved the smell of fresh pine in our tiny apartment. In addition, we had our friends whose toddler totally enjoyed her gifts under our tree. Her joy added to our own happiness, and to the holiday magic too.

As we moved apartments and then to our own home over 15 years ago now, my collection of ornaments grew as well, and every tree since has found its special spot – well, the very same one ever since we have lived here at least!! This year, with everyone having been sick and still recovering, I am keeping it simpler with lights and a wreath plus other creative ways to hang up some of the ornaments (photos coming later this week).

Poetic Sundays: The Wreath Form For That Holiday Magic

I am still having the holidays in mind, and so today I come to you with the wreath. I am not sure that it is an established poetic form but I found it on PoetsCollective and then I also chanced upon George Herbert’s poem titled – A Wreath. The poem is almost self explanatory to this form.

George Herbert himself wrote many wonderful pattern poems, including Easter Wings

So What is the Wreath Form?

Just like the wreath itself, the form is circular, and each line links to the next by means of the words within, forming a chain of sorts. While the form does not require any specific meter or rhyme, having a rhyme scheme that somehow reflects circularity definitely adds to the richness of this poetic form. And if you could wrap it all up in the last line to link back to the first line, then you have completed and closed the circle, so to say!!

In effect, a wreath poem is any poem with or without a rhyme scheme or specific meter, in which each line is linked to the previous line by a word or phrase in the previous line. More often, a word or group of words in the latter part of the previous line make up the initial part of the current line, and so on.

The Wreath

So, the wreath form’s basic elements are that it is

• rhyme optional: can have a scheme following a circular pattern or rhyme scheme of choice
• meter optional: up to the poet
• linked: each line is linked to the previous one through a word or phrase (ending word/words of line x making up part of the start of line x+1)
• extra points: if you so choose, you could arrange the words in the form of a wreath!! (see note below in George Herbert’s example)
• other points to consider: there is no required number of lines for this form, but it helps to have more lines to see that pattern and to play with it

My first attempt

The title is simply a play on words and a pun on the No-L day event since this poem cannot be written without the letter ‘L’! No offense intended, but the pun is of course intended! And please excuse this very simple first draft. I did run out of time 🙂

Not a No-L Day!
Love and laughter, all that we need for life
for life that is full of happiness and joy
joy that brings smiles on faces we cherish and love!
~Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites

And My Son’s First Attempt

(So much “more” than mine!)

University Blues
New settings, new people, new faces
Facing different challenges, unfamiliar situations
Situated below peaks, two hundred miles away
Away in the distance, I’m born anew
From my son for me …Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites

George Herbert’s A Wreath for inspiration and holiday magic

A Wreath

A wreathèd garland of deservèd praise,
Of praise deservèd, unto Thee I give,
I give to Thee, who knowest all my ways,
My crooked winding ways, wherein I live,—
Wherein I die, not live ; for life is straight,
Straight as a line, and ever tends to Thee,
To Thee, who art more far above deceit,
Than deceit seems above simplicity.
Give me simplicity, that I may live,
So live and like, that I may know Thy ways,
Know them and practise them: then shall I give
For this poor wreath, give Thee a crown of praise.

~ George Herbert

Note: wreath and praise in the last line link back to the first line. I also saw one image (here) where it looks like Herbert placed these words in the form of a wreath (though I am not sure as the words are not clear from the image).

References, h/t, Additional Reading

• Analysis of George Herbert’s A Wreath

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Recently

On My Blog

My recent posts since and including my last Sunday Scribblings (not very many)

• Pride and Prejudice (Marvel Illustrated): The Graphic Edition & More
• 10 YA Books That Need To Be Reviewed
• Sunday Scribblings #87: The Wonderful Story of the Carol

And At Home

As my allergies became a thing of the past and my daughter got over her illness with only some sniffles to show that she was sick, it looks like we passed the baton to my DH. He is now coughing and feeling miserable so we might have to rethink our upcoming vacation plans, but keeping fingers crossed for now. And making plans for the little things that help make the trips easier – like the places we can eat at for each meal, and the list of sights that we must not miss.

Upcoming

On My Blog and Home Front

A couple of posts hopefully on my blog as I get more YA mini reviews in, and other overdue reviews as well. And of course, spending time with family to create more holiday magic!!

This Week’s Celebrations

Literary Celebrations (close-to-it also!)

• Literary birthdays this week include: Kate Atkinson and Sandra Cisneros on the 20th of Dec; Laini Taylor on the 22nd of December; Carol Ann Duffy on the 23rd; Mary Higgins Clark and Stephanie Meyer on Dec 24; David Sedaris and Henry Miller on 26th Dec
• Dec 21st is Crossword Puzzle Day and Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day
• A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day sounds like fun, and celebrated on the 25th of December
• National Thank-you Note Day is aptly celebrated on Dec 26th

Foodie Celebrations

• Dec 20th is National Sangria Day
• National Date Nut Bread Day is on the 22nd of December
• Dec 23rd celebrates a delicious German spice cookie with National Pfeffernusse Day
• National Eggnog Day is celebrated on the 24th of December and I am yet to try this but hesitant…
• The 25th of course is Christmas, and also National Pumpkin Pie Day
• National Candy Cane Day is on the 26th of December

Other Celebrations

• International Human Solidarity Day and Go Caroling Day is on the 20th of December
• The 21st celebrates the Scrooges and the Ebenezers with Humbug Day
• Seinfeld fans will definitely remember that the 23rd of December is Festivus
• Apparently, the Thursday before Christmas is National Re-Gifting Day  (one of the ways to re-gift is through those white elephant gift parties!)
• National Whiner’s Day (uh, what?!:-)) is on the 26th along with Day of Goodwill

Multi-Day Events

• Christmas Bird Count Week: December 14-January 5
• Las Posadas: December 16-24

Wrapping up my Sunday Scribblings

So dear reader, you have reached the end of this Sunday Scribblings! As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about this post. And do let me know if you plan to celebrate any of these mentioned celebrations this coming week/month?

Linking this to the Sunday Post over at the Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Salon