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'The Nativity' by Rudolph Valentino Bostic

from google.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE



The SIXTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' continues(Jan 1st - Jan 5th). Thank you for celebrating with me. Wishing YOU a a bright and prosperous NEW YEAR. More on The Twelve Days Of Christmas lyrics,music, meaning


clip art courtesy Wikipedia


Welcoming the New Year out in the street where i live, St James Trinidad

coolness of pre-dawn
sound of the new year
masked by fire crackers
--gillena cox


(And so our story continues from December 25th 2013 posting)

WHAT'S ANANCY UP TO NOW! © gillena cox
Well! a good two hours or so had passed, without Anancy returning, and Mrs Anancy continued humming though her baking was finished. on the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...on the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...on the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...on the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...on the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...on the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la....
In her Christmas reverie she headed for the living room striding towards the Christmas tree. What's this? Is she planning to string popcorn to the tree?

Well! meanwhile, Anancy, having tripped, and rolled, about three times in the dark, thought he heard crickets and cicadas laughing at him. "Silly Anancy" he though he heard them saying. "The three magi traveled, far and wide, days and nights, to bring gifts to the baby Jesus where his mother had laid him in the manger". "Silly Anancy chirarr chirarr"

Oh no i'm imagining things, thought Anancy; dont crickets and cicadas sleep this time of night? And he continued moving through the bush. "Silly Anancy" he though he heard them saying again. Didn't Saint Nicholas leave gifts and offerings to children long long long long time ago when he was alive? "Silly Anancy chirarr chirarr" sounded again.

Poor Anansi, by then he had gotten to his favourite rock, where he often time came to ponder things. Things like when he got together with his pal in the rainforest to discuss the ways of the environment and they talked and argued about snow storms, and tsunamis, and floods, and such like; manly things they thought. And then, they would forget the grocery lists their wives had given to them, returning home empty handed; only to be scolded by their wives. Oh yes! Anancy had his flaws. And this is were he came to ponder, many times with a heart heavy with sadness having been scolded by Mrs Anancy. But at these times, Wind stroked his spidery cheeks, and the rustle of the leaves soothed him.

But remember; this was Christmas eve night. A night of heightened expectancy, a night of wonder and ethereal promise, a night, busy with angelic voices practising their singing. So it was no means strange to hear voices on such a night, even voices, whispering to Anancy; who, some say, was a super-hero kind of being, who could walk upright like men do, but at the same time he could spin webs and traverse distances, ordinary men could not.

However that's beside the point. Anancy shook himself up straight, gathered up the toys he had hidden in the rainforest and headed for home. He would just have to make Mrs Anancy understand. He just couldn't do it, he couldn't not-buy his children gifts for Christmas.

When he got home, the living room was just barely lit, so he tipped toed to the tree and placed his gifts under. Then, backing away, OOPs! he bumped into Mrs Anancy, who was also on tippy toes; spilling from her, a good handful of gifts. They looked at each other a good five minutes, then they both burst out laughing. Anancy kissed Mrs Anancy good night, and she immediately starting humming again.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me la la la la la la la...
THE END
Anansi image © gillena cox

first rainbow...
all the colours of hope
lifted sky high
--gillena cox,


A mass at the Mount*
to usher in the New Year…
deep yearnings for peace
--Keith Simmonds, Trinidad and Tobao
(*Mount = Saint Benedict Monastery Trinidad – 01/01/2014)

New Year's day
no trace of yesterday's prints
or last year's plans
--Adelaide Shaw, US


clip art courtesy Wikipedia



A mother comes home
to bury her only son…
Yuletide excesses
--Keith Simmonds, Trinidad and Tobago


--Adelaide Shaw, US


image from google.com


for John Carley(Aug 1955-Dec 2012) who formed the Zip Haiku

new years day... a grackle stops
among the ixoras... briefly
--gillena cox



clip art courtesy Wikipedia




--Adelaide Shaw, US


Anancy must fall a lot
not see clearly the birth
looking through winter’s eyes
not knowing why Jesus is not in the manger
Not Knowing Jesus was born in the Fall
Anancy’s vows to Jesus always Fall
--Lorraine Renaud, Canada


clip art courtesy Wikipedia



street dwellers
eating as much as they can...
Christmas leftovers
*
children still playing
with their Christmas presents…
a broken crèche
--Keith Simmonds, Trinidad and Tobago



--Adelaide Shaw, US


Nativity scenes
the magi stand or kneel...
the artists' whimsy
--gillena cox
first posted to NaHaiWriMo - facebook prompts: art/artists



clip art courtesy Wikipedia



winter storm
from the neighbor's garage
he revs his harley
--Michael Baribeau, US


pine scented candle
relighting the stub
one more night
--Adelaide Shaw, US


lights flicker brightly
upon the adorned tree…
twelfth day of Christmas
--Keith Simmonds, Trinidad and Tobago



Thanks to everyone who, celebrated with me. I hope our ponderings, on that magnificent birth, renew in our spirit again, the joy and hope we need to journey, like those three wise men, to bow in reverence at the feet of God's love.

Much love
gillena


Individual copyright remains with participants and should not be used without their permission.

Remember to read also those shared as COMMENTS.

This post was created January ist 2014(DAY 8) and edited to include (DAYS 9-12)
revisit Days 1-7, 2013
revisit Finale 2012/13

Okay!!!Lets do this; join in the finale of the celebration, 'Twelve days of Christmas' at Lunch Break, Jan 1st - Jan 5th; EMAIL me, COMMENT, or leave a LINK at the blog hop below.

1160

Renku Saturday #35; features an oldie, 2007 collaboration; revisit Renku Saturday #34

Linking today to Scenic Weekends


Nostalgia

long night- -
the soft click click click click
from my computer mouse /A


A tiny back cat
swats at the mouse /B


tree silhouettes
against an orange sky
eventide /A



In the morning
the fresh fall of leaves
loneliness surrounds /B


ixora leaves in dawn's light
the glitter of raindrops /A



Gentle Caribbean
his irises still haunting her
with the same colours /B


Nostalgia - a rengay
Rengay Form: 3.2.3.3.2.3
Poet A:Angelika Kolompar, Canada; Poet B: Gillena Cox, Trinidad and Tobago
Written via emails
Start date: Friday 12th October 2007
End date: Tuesday 23nd October 2007
photo - 'Waterfront' Port of Spain Trinidad 2009 - Gillena Cox

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image from google

late Christmas card
call of a peacock
in the distance
--Kirsten Cliff

soft breath of God
whispers to my heart and soul
a Son is born today
--Pat Geyer

...Gently, gently, gently Anansi felt himself being landed; As Wind opened slightly the door of a stable, no one looked around, the door was opened so quietly. And there it was Anansi saw : oxen, donkey, sheep, cattle all lying in sweet hay, some munching, some not; and the same three unusually dressed men, presenting their gifts to... and this is when Anansi squealed with delight "baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph and shepheds". Anansi clapped his hands for joy and did a happy dance, but no one looked around, no one saw or heard Anansi; but everyone heard angels singing, Joy to the world let earth receive her King.... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

A star twinkles on
a child in a manger …
the Prince of peace

a tiny Infant
from the humblest of abodes
peace and love to all
--Keith Simmonds


Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me
Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Christmas Eve
of long agos
I still cry
'O Holy night
--Lorraine

Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 3 Jan 2012
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

1079

image from google

smell of roast
in the long distance call –
Christmas day
--Stella Pierides

TV movies Christmas day
sips of saki and chocolate
--gillena cox

family gathering...
the many sounds
of laughter
--Kirsten Cliff


...Left alone for a while, Anansi and Mrs Anansi sit at the table sipping coffee. They use cinnamon sticks to stir, stirring slowing. They sip and they talk, for the children are too excited by their new toys to feel hungry, or even remember, they have anansi parents.... (continues tomorrow)
(story of) 'Anansi - An Unusual Experience' © gillena cox 2012

Anansi image © gillena cox 2011


silent day after Christmas
I clean house again
-- Adelaide

Boxing Day hunt —
ducks on the Danube line-up
for crumbs
-- Stella Pierides

so many left overs oh my scale
better walk all the boxing sale
--Lorraine


Welcome to the FIFTH YEAR'S celebration of 'The 12 days of
Christmas here at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me Wishing the love and warmth of family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012


Lets do this; the 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break Dec 25 to January 5th; to join in the celebration email me or post a COMMENT


revisit 26 Dec 2011
Inspiration for this series The Twelve Days of Christmas Carol
more about Anansi

All poems and images remain the copyright of individual writers

Sunday Savvy 29

Sunday savvy -
bright sky hosts no day moon
a gentle rain
--gillena cox

Today is the first rainy season Sunday here in T&T; if Corpus Christ Thursday was considered the start of the rainy season.
I came across some witty weather writings at coldal web pages weather lore
Here are a few that made me smile:


Rain on Easter Sunday, it will rain the next 7 Sundays.
Fog goes a hoppin', rain comes a droppin'
Fog in January makes a wet Spring
Feb fog means a frost in May
Ash Wednesday wind continues in Lent
Cold is the night, when stars shine bright.
If smoke goes up - clear, smoke comes down - moisture on the way.
--Carol Saseen

*

The last Sunday in the month indicates
the weather of the next month.

When circle around the moon t'will rain
-- Amber

*

Infallible signs of Rainy Weather, from the Observations of divers Animals!

If Ducks or Drakes their Wings do flutter high
Or tender Colts upon their Backs do lie,
If Sheep do bleat, or play, or skip about,
Or Swine hide Straw by bearing on their Snout,
If Oxen lick themselves against the Hair,
Or grazing Kine to feed apace appear,
If Cattle bellow, grazine from below,
Or if Dogs Entrails rumble to and fro,
If Doves or Pigeons in the Evening come
Later than usual to their Dove-House Home,
If Crows and Daws do oft themselves be-wet,
Or Ants and Pismires Home a-pace do get,
If in the dust Hens do their Pinions shake,
Or by their flocking a great Number make,
If Swallows fly upon the Water low,
Or Wood-Lice seem in Armies for to go,
If Flies or Gnats, or Fleas infest and bite,
Or sting more than they're wont by Day or Night,
If Toads hie Home, or Frogs do croak amain,
Or Peacocks cry
Soon after look for Rain!

*

Dirty days hath September
April June and November
From January up to May
The rain it raineth every day
All the rest have thirty-one
Without a blessed gleam of sun
And if any of them had two-and-thirty
They'd be just as wet and twice as dirty.

*
SUNDAY SMILES TO ALL whatever the weather have a nice day and do, share a lil Sunday something of yours with me: COMMENT or email me

Cultivated green tea fields, Numazu, New Tomei expressway service stop

the Pacific
the breeze of green tea
Sunday drive
--Taro Kunugi

tag 1 ...Rambles with a Camera - Sunday 10th June 2012

tag2...Flow And Stuff - Sunday 10th June2012

tag 3...Crafty Green Poet - Sunday 10 June 2012

revisit Sunday Savvy 28

Sunday Savvy 28

After the work week, or the school week, and weekend chores of Saturday, Sunday is a nice day to pack in some leisure hours; and this Sunday the community of St James affords its populace such a treat since the annual 'we beat' festival started June 1st and ends June 9th this year

Sunday savvy -
the 'we beat' stage draped
red white and black
--gillena cox


Sunday Smiles


tag 1...Rambles With A Camera - June 3rd 2012

tag 2...Flow And Stuff L - June 3rd 2012

tag 3...Feathers 1092


Why not share a lil Sunday something of yours with me: COMMENT or email me

revisit Sunday Savvy 27


Sunday . . .
how quickly
the long day passes
--Bill, US


Sunday morning
tickseed flowers brighter
than the sun
--Cara, US


picnic on the porch
the fragrance of peonies
with the ham and cheese
--Adelaide, US


I remember when I was a child:

Sunday clatter
coins in the passing tin
fresh milk

My Grandmother Magyar always wispered as the collection dish went by, "A less hungry child."
--_m, US


old age home---
wait for her son
on sunday morning
--Kash poet, IN


Sundays I never liked
I yearn for Mondays
--Lorraine, CA

Sunday Savvy 26

...of Sunday Savvy and supermoon speculations...
Sunday Smiles to all

Two weekends ago the 2012 supermoon bloomed on Saturday May 5th.
On Sunday May 6 the moon approached within 357,000 km (222,000 mi) of Earth, in what is scientifically known as a perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system

Sunday savvy
supermoon has come and gone
first caladium
--gillena cox

The name SuperMoon was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, arbitrarily defined as:...a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee). In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth.

some awesome supermoon 2012 photos

Today's Sunday Savvy tease; be sure to hyperlink to read more

Did the 'Super Moon' 2012 topple Greece and France?
Did supermoon cause the Japan tsunami 2011
next supermoon 2016

revisit Sunday Savvy 25
This is the 26th of The Series Sunday Savvy; again i invite you to share a lil Sunday something of yours with me : COMMENT
or email me


Ice cream
with speckles
green M&M
--Lorraine, CA

balmy Sunday
thinking about weeding
is work enough
--Adelaide, US

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

opening image a photo taken at Lopino 2008

Hope YOU had A MERRY CHRISTMAS and WISHES FOR A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR; This has been the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF
The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break

The Anansy Story is an intrinsic icon in the oral tradition of Caribbean people and this year's celebration was done haibun style. All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' and also The Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here; Thank you for celebrating with me.

Many religious observers ascribe the 12 Drummers Drumming as symbolic for The twelve points of the Apostles' Creed; But now to end this story...

DAY TWELVE JANUARY 5RD 2012

Parang Parang Parang, Parang Parang Parang. that was what Anansi heard outside his window on awakening Christmas morning, that, and the sweet voice of his wife, Mrs Anansi down stairs singing; when he, Kwaku Anansi, opened his eyes, and yawned loudly, and stretched his spidery self. When he, Kwaku Anansi, jumped off his bed dancing wildly and shouting
"i'm at home, i'm at home";
and, when he, Kwaku Anansi paused for a while, to scratch his spidery head.
"But how could this be?
And there was the voice of Mrs Anansi fillng the Anansi home as
she sang the carol "on the twelfth day of Christmas, my love gave to meeee..twelve drummers drumming...eleven pipers piping...ten lords a-leaping...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"
Meanwhile all the way to church and back Anansi had driven carefully but his mind was full of thoughts;
"Was it really just a dream; but how could that be?"
And really i also do not know... may all your Christmases be special AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

--Meanwhile in Australia as reported by Comrade harps

we drive home
veer from our direction
and meet her at the hospital



--And in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

toasting with glasses
of ginger beer and sorrel...
joyful neighbours

steel pans
belting out carols...
peace to all mankind



--And in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

lunch time
a pan full of
Nürnberger



--And in Serbia as reported by Tatjana Debeljacki

Christmas tree
whole family sitting together
drinking reiki

in round cake
We turn around three times
God help



--And in the USA as reported by Dian Mayr

the new year
grandma gives baby a pot
and a wooden spoon


Poems and images remain the copyright of the individual writers

Thanks to: Adelaide Shaw, Alex Serban, Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, Comrade Harps, Dian Mayr, Gheorghe Postelnicu, Juhani Tikkanen, Keith Simmonds, Konrad Kusmirak, Lorraine Renaud, Magyar, Ralf Bröker and Tatjana Debeljacki

Thanks to all who visited but did not leave a comment, Thanks to all who e mailed or indicated their appreciation at Facebook

much love
gillena

Thus ends, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Dec 25th 2011 to Jan 5th 2012; right here at Lunch Break

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

Opening haiga © gillena cox

Welcome to the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break' Thanks for celebrating with me

DAY NINE JANUARY 2ND 2012

Suddenly, as if by some sort of magic, Anansi found himself in the rainforest of Mexico, how he got there he had no idea, he remembered feeling so tired that he blinked his eyelids rapidly to keep from falling asleep while walking;
"but this is not Latin America"
he said,
"this is Mexico, i recognize this giant green shrubbery , the foliage of the legendary Poinsettia,"
he was talking aloud now , and he didn't even realise this,
"The beautiful beautiful Poinsettia"
he continued; and, as he said this, a mighty wind rippled through the rainforest, right there in Mexico, and Madam Poinsettia swayed in the wind and she blushed. First she turned a pale yellowish green, then a pale pink, then a little brighter pink until she was glowing a bright red, there in the Mexican rainforest.
"Ma dam Poin sett ia"
Anansi heard these two words leaving his lips.
"What this about Poinsettia dear?"
Mrs Anansi asked but Anansi only jumped looking startled as if a mouse had run across his feet, and said to Mrs Anansi
"its nothing dear just continue your sweet singing"
and so Mrs Anansi sang; "on the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meeee...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"

--Meanwhile in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

watching football
my son knows
all the names



--And in Serbia as reported by Tatjana Debeljacki

A CAT BY THE CHRISTMAS TREE
GRANDMOTHER KNITTED THE GLOVES
AROMA OF THE FRESH BREAD



--And in the USA as reported by Dian Mayr

zumba class
the women step up the pace
after the new year



--And in Cape Cod as reported by magyar

a homeless man
feeds the stray dog
friends gift




--And in Canada as reported by Lorraine Renaud

My 3 cats
cold
comfort me


Many religious observers ascribe the Nine ladies dancing as symbolic for Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit

more aboutThe 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the song here
read a legend of the Poinsettia here

Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers

To participate COMMENT or e-mail me

OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Fireworks 2012 Happy New Year Trinidad

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

Opening Anansi image © gillena cox 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS and Welcome to the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break' Thank you for celebrating with me

All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' © gillena cox 2011

DAY SEVEN DECEMBER 31ST 2011


...just about everyone knows, that Anansi was created on that day when wisdom was given to the animals.
I dont know if it was the first day, I dont know if it was the second day, I dont know if it was the third day, I dont know if it was the fourth day, I dont know if it was the fifth day, I dont know if it was the sixth day, I dont know if it was the seventh day; all i know is that Anansi, sometimes called 'Anansi the spider' was sometimes a man, and sometimes a spider; and as a spider he could spin webs; not the flimsy kind we know and call cobwebs. Oh no. Not he, he spun strong beautiful webs that were apprropriate to his needs in every situation.
"Anansi!" he heard is wife's voice as if in a far far distance; "you seem so preoccupied" Dont bother youself Mrs Anansi," he replied, " i'm alright, i'm just enjoying your beautiful singing." So she sang more loudly now "on the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to meeee...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"

--Meanwhile in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

the scent of paint
blowing in the wind...
Christmas carols


--And in Germany as reported by Ralf

playing cards
the other ones
cheat


--And in Canada as reported by Lorraine Renaud

Back together
stretch lines
soften


Many religious observers ascribe the seven swans a-swimming as symbolic for Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

more aboutThe 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the song here

Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers

To participate COMMENT or e-mail me


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Susan Macio - Trini Christmas Is The Best