First up, we’re proud to share our very own James Weston’s poignant version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. James wrote the music that we use in the intro of our @theroundtable podcast & video series. Please checkout James’ Facebook page for more about his music!
by Andrea Haydon
Language Of Angels by Deborah Petersen Adeste Fideles Early winter was the season of Purple and pink candles, And old stories ̶ We sang in the language of angels Our harmony, we knew, came from heaven; Laeti triumphantes It was Midnight Mass in the cathedral And a time to wear our new dresses and don our new shoes As mightily as youth could take us. A place in the choir, up where the angels fly. Natum videte This was our sacred and secret language; This was our direct connection to the Divine; This was our moment of Grace and Knee-shaking faith come alive. Regem angelorum The words, no longer sung. The shoes, no longer fit. But, the gifts of the wonder of Awe and The love of Ritual, Bless me still. Amen.
by Alys Caviness-Gober
80 Degrees In November by Alys Caviness-Gober It’s 80 degrees in November right here in Indianer the hottest I can remember than any year beforer late Autumn’s falling warmer seems the world’s dryer and we’re in a fryer ~ damn ye, climate change denier!
by Alys Caviness-Gober
Hot Cocoa by Deborah Petersen A silver purple silence as Dusk cocoons the day; Milk on the stove coming to a Smiling bubble; Cocoa in the mugs ready to be stirred With peppermint sticks. The day has been filled with Ice skating and sledding and runny noses And laughter frozen in swirls. The memories of the day, now, Comforted and wrapped in a mug of Soothing, warming, chocolatey cocoa With peppermint in the wisp of the moment.
by Alys Caviness-Gober
Dreaming Again by Alys Caviness-Gober Why do dreams feel so real? Part One Sometimes waking up is like gasping to the water’s surface after near-drowning; straining through blurred vision, gasping wet-cheeked, dizzily trying to see a horizon line; like waves pounding in eardrums gasping heart and lungs bursting reverberating sorrow and pain; eyes and mouth agape with shock gasping up into grayed silence clawing at the indifferent air. Part Two I lie in silence, pleading with myself go back to sleep because both of you were there back from the dead unaware of all the days and nights and the years long gone now; you were here; and I wept hugging you tightly one after the other and you were solid in my arms I held the bones and flesh of you like a lifeline go back to sleep you were here; and Mom, you kissed my cheek, and said, how wonderful to see you and Dad, you laugh-snorted and scolded what’s the matter with you my god I heard your voices so real so real go back to sleep you were here with me in the grayed silence of the indifferent air and all I could do was weep and grasp, grasping you tightly to me, feeling the flesh and bone of you in my arms as my heart and lungs burst and your voices echoed in my ears pounding like waves in eardrums reverberating sorrow and pain my vision dizzily blurred as I awoke, wet-cheeked, straining to keep you with me go back to sleep but my lifelines slipped back into an horizon I cannot reach until perhaps a near-drowning comes again. Why do dreams feel so real?
by Alys Caviness-Gober
Holidays 2020 by Vivianne Belle Settled cozy wrapped in shawls and afghans made for me years ago by family and friends, remembering festive moments and opening boxes wrapped in beautiful paper, remembering laughter and hugs and sharing happiness; Remembering, I sit, settled cozy, gazing in anticipation, waiting for the chimes, and the festive moment when I'll see boxed faces ~ like beautiful gifts ~ light up with smiles as we shout our hellos and Happy Holidays through a distance incalculable.
by Alys Caviness-Gober