Season's Greetings

[rosiphelee]

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. The sun is now returning and it's a day to enjoy traditions. It's a mild Christmas here this year - I still have fuchsias and lobelia in flower and will be an exciting one for the family as it's my nephew Sam's very first.

But here, for tradition's sake, is an old friend to mark the season.

The Oxen

Thomas Hardy

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel,

"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so’

I hope you all have the Christmas you hope for :)