My Christmas poem was inspired by an article in last Saturday’s Independent Magazine by Oscar Quine entitled Festive Fare, an A to Z of what we might consume at this time of the year, including a few surprises. I used the list and some of the explanations to create an A to Z of my own. The only item I changed was XO Chicken which I have no idea how to pronounce!
I love finding poetry in other people’s writing. My favourite words of Oscar’s are ‘squidgy and luminous’ when referring to jellied fruits and my favourite line for playfully twisting the words I found is the one about roasties. The lobster line was … er … tough.
I hope you enjoy it and I’d like to think some of you might share it along with some food and drink over the festive period. I sent it to Oscar who was good enough to write back: “Thank you so much for your fantastic poem. I passed it around the team and you have put a smile on all of our faces just in time for Christmas. Personally, I’m very pleased that you felt inspired by my piece!” Thanks Oscar!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you so much for reading my blog over the past year.
Festive Fare
inspired by an article by Oscar Quine in The Independent Magazine 12.12.2015
A is for Asti, Italian Spumante
B is for Brussels sprouts – hear the kids moan
C is for cheese that we’re always too full for
D is for date with a stick and a stone
E is for eggnog – “a noggin of egg grog”
F is for fish when abstaining from meat
G is for glühwein served hot, it’s delicious
H is for humbug (I don’t mean a sweet)
I is for Irish Cream, laden with calories
J is for jellied fruits, squidgy and luminous
K is for KFC, choice for the Japanese
L is for lobster, not very voluminous!
M is for mince pies brought back by crusaders
N is for nutroast for veggies, and cheap
O is for oysters, luxurious blighters
P is for pigs in their blankets asleep
Q is for Queen’s speech delivered at 3 o’clock
R is for roasties by Edward the King
S is for snowball – a drink, so don’t throw it
T is for turkey – leg, white meat or wing
U is for unwanted guests past their welcome
V is for vermouth for cocktails galore
W is for whisk(e)y – it’s Scotch or it’s Irish
X is for Xmas – what this poem’s for!
Y is for yule log with marzipan snowmen,
rocks made of nuts, and a sugary frost
Z is for sleeping when dinner is over
before you wake up and work out what it cost!
© Heather Wastie
December 2015
Thank you Heather â I love the poem, hits lots of the right spots!
Happy Christmas and all good wishes for continued success in the coming year.
Jean and Charles
Thanks Jean! Sending best wishes to you both for Christmas and the New Year ahead.
Reblogged this on Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe and commented:
A Christmas poem from Worcestershire Poet Laureate, Heather Wastie.