It’s Poetry Friday and it’s also December 1, which is both the first day of Advent, and the first day of summer here in Australia.
So, although I keep thinking it’s ages till Christmas, I guess it is now officially close. It’s also a sign that the school year (which runs from February to December) is coming to a close, and in classrooms across the country, kids and teachers alike are looking forward to school finishing. With all that in mind, here’s a little poem about December – and Christmas – in Australia.
Christmas is Coming
Christmas is coming.
We’ve stopped learning stuff at school
except how to sing Jingle Bells
whilst standing straight and tall
so the folks can get good piccies
at speech night;
and how to get glitter to stick
to a polystyrene ball
to hang on the Chrissie tree;
and how to make a gazillion cards
one for Mum
one for Dad
and two for the grandmas;
and how to carry home
all those scrapbooks
and artworks
and dead textas
and how to concentrate
on all this
even though it’s 40 degrees
and our classroom isn’t airconditioned
and all we really think about
as that Christmas is coming.
(Poem copyright Sally Murphy)
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is at A Reading Year. Head over there for lots more poetry goodness.
Instead of the white Christmas, you have the white sand Christmas or the bikini Christmas. I have to try it one day. I think I’d like it very much.
lol Brenda. White sand maybe, but no bikini on this gal! But yes Christmas in the summer is lovely – though I’d like to do it in the snow one day 🙂
Definitely seems odd having Christmas and summer concurrent…but glad you’re enjoying yourself! (And hopefully the A/C is working!)
Thanks Matt! Oh yeah – we have a/c and a swimming pool 🙂
It’s hard for my Northern-Hemisphere-Centric brain to imagine Christmas and summer break at the same time! Your poem is a good window to how those in the Southern Half live!! Thanks!
Thank YOU Mary Lee.
Sally, I concur that your (new?) blog background is looking VERY cool, and I’m loving your poem, so full of familiar mysteries. We get the gist, but what’s a texta? What kind of trees do you put up–are they evergreens? Where do those grow in Australia? 40* indeed!
Thanks Heidi. A text is a just a coloured marker pen. texta is a brand, but when I was a kid they were the only brand.
A lot fo people do put up ‘real’ trees. they are pines, which are grown specially in plantations. But most people – including us, these days – use fake trees. keeping a pine tree alive for more than a week is very difficult in the summer.
First, Wowza on the starry pic of you and that fun ‘scope! It’s GREAT!
And, I also love these glimpses into Aussie life and seasons and such – thanks for sharing, and Happy Almost-Christmas to you & yours! :0)
Thanks Robyn. The photo is courtesy of a dear friend, and the starry background was worked in my clever daughter.
I love it! I still have a styrofoam ball covered in glitter that’s 42 years old. Happy Christmas and summer to you!
Well done on keeping it that long, Linda. The decorations my kids made hold such memories.
So nice to get a taste of Christmas down under. Fun poem, can’t believe it’s already December!!
No, as with every year, it’s a case of ‘wait, where did THAT year go?”
It’s so much fun learning about Australia from you and Kat! I can picture the scene, so much excitement and so much to think about.
Thank you Tabatha. Alan Wright is another Aussie who’s joined Poetry Friday. We are taking over, lol.
This is a poem that took me back to my own school days and those of my Kiddo when she was in school. It is just lovely and really captures those school days just before the holidays arrive.
Thanks Alex. I think that excitement is universal.
Such fun! Yes, my sixth graders are so excited for the holidays, already.
Thanks Tara. Good luck with them from now till then 🙂
I am a retired teacher and know the excitement of vacation coming, but Christmas, at least for most, too would bring added chaos for sure. I love hearing all the Aussie words, Sally, and your poem sails along just as these weeks will!
Thanks Linda. I love love love Christmas, but I am glad not to be teaching at this time of year any more.
What a fun poem! I can’t imagine the loss of concentration with both the end of school and Christmas wrapped up together!
It’s chaos. And although it’s fun, it’s also exhausting for all concerned.
Fun poem Sally–it sure must be hard for all those kiddies and even teachers to concentrate right about now. I liked the “gazillion cards” too! Enjoy the holidays as they approach, thanks!
Thanks Michelle. I think the end of school year is probably like that whenever it falls, but coming so close to Christmas and with the weather heating up, I think it’s extra hard to focus.
Love it Sally. I’ve seen them having to move furniture around too.
Oh yeah. The cleaning and stacking of the furniture!