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Christmas in the Austrian Alps (Part 1 of 4)
Contributed by
Elizabeth_Dandy
on
Saturday, 29th November 2003 @ 08:43:16 AM in AEST
Topic:
InspirationalPoems
|
The Christ Kind Mart
At this new century’s Christmas let me share
With dwellers of this world and all who care
To learn about the country of my birth;
Its customs of sobriety or mirth.
I thus begin: - It is a wintry land;
That threatening avalanches must withstand,
But its traditions are full worth to tell
They are so multi-hued and do compel
Astonished tourists take in with delight
The practices most strange or quaintly rite;
Artists find plenty of food for inspiration,
Children and adults watch with fascination
Events unfolding, - Poets burnt-out and adrift
Get suddenly an unexpected lift.
December first opens the Christ Kind Mart;
And traders bring wares to town by buggy and cart;
Where merchants beckon with friendly greetings and calls
Inviting the shoppers to come to their open-air-stalls.
For sale, all know, - the traditional Christ Kind Mart
Offers practical things and items of art;
Cribs and hand-carved figures are sold (free of tax)
Infant Christs and ornament candles in wax;
Golden straw stars, fastened with ribbons or twill,
Woven by hand in exquisite patterns with skill;
Jaunty felt hats, adorned with pheasant feather,
Special tools for work in wood and leather;
Educational books, but also plenty of toys,
Pageantry masks, and the coveted beards of chamois.
Kitchen contrivances and utility gear
Pitchers and steins to hold strong nut-brown beer
Ceramic platters, plates and broad-handled mugs;
And for New Year’s eve,- extravagant egg nogg jugs,
Christmas food stuffs, either fresh or canned
Are offered with “Russen” (a herring) most in demand;
Creches with well-carved Holy Family,
And natives attending to the Nativity;
Wood- or gleaming ceramic angels hover
In worship around the grotto’s star-lit cover.
Peasants with sheep and goats and waddling geese,-
Three holy kings and shepherds on their knees.
All fitted out in the local traditional attire-
Attract the native and the tourist buyer;
Garlands of wood shaving dancing and swinging sprightly,
Willow-twig door bells, woven dense and tightly,
To decorate hallways, porches, dens and scores
Of homestead alcove niches, yards and doors.
Trade is brisk, and with magic filled is the air-
In the town, its alleys, streets and the market square.
Forests from nearby furnish fir and pine;
Wreaths for Advent and mistletoe garlands twine.
Items of fauna and timberland roll on the ground
While cheery carols from bells and chimes resound
Copyright ©
Elizabeth_Dandy
... [
2003-11-29 08:43:16]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Christmas in the Austrian Alps (Part 1 of 4)
(User Rating: 1 )
by ArdRi79 on
Saturday, 29th November 2003 @ 12:27:09 PM AEST
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a Message)
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| I like the language you use in this and I enjoyed your insight into your culture, thanks for writing it. |
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Re: Christmas in the Austrian Alps (Part 1 of 4)
(User Rating: 1 )
by lovingcritters on
Sunday, 30th November 2003 @ 10:36:17 PM AEST
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Dear Ed, The beauty in the smiles above your poem
Enchance the culture and meaning below.
My what a marvelous culture, and tradtion that you come from.
Sunny and warm, and friendly and kind.
Do you suppose that's why those young people look so sublime?
This was a wonderful works, ED. I can see all you preparations, and tencity!
Love,
ConSue |
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