CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Snow at Argenteuil

1875

Oil on Canvas

71 cm x 91 cm

by

Claude Monet 1840-1926

now that's what I  call art

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CHRISTMASTIDE

Thomas Hardy 1840-1928

The rain-shafts splintered on me

As despondently I strode;

The twilight gloomed upon me

And bleared the blank high-road.

Each bush gave forth, when blown on

By gusts in shower and shower,

A sigh, as it were sown on

In handfuls by a sower.

A cheerful voice called nigh me,

"A merry Christmas, friend!"

There rose a figure by me,

Walking with townward trend,

A sodden tramp's, who, breaking

Into thin song, bore straight

Ahead, direction taking

Toward the Casual's gate.

(The Casual's gate was the entrance to the workhouse in Dorchester)

The Thomas Hardy Poetry Path

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THE NATIVITY

c.1597

Oil on Canvas

134 cm x 105 cm

by

Federico Barocci 1535-1612 

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CHRISTMAS PAST
by Carice Williams

Each Christmas I remember
The ones of long ago;
I see our mantelpiece adorned
With stockings in a row.

Each Christmas finds me dreaming
Of days that used to be,
When we hid presents here and there,
For all the family.

Each Christmas I remember
The fragrance in the air,
Of roasting turkey and mince pies
And cookies everywhere.

Each Christmas finds me longing
For Christmases now past,
And I am back in childhood
As long as memories last.

My Poetry Digest

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THE CENSUS AT BETHLEHEM

1566
Oil on Wood Panel
115.3 cm x 164.5 cm 
by
Pieter Brueghel the Elder 1526/30-1569

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Two Letters To Santa
 Annabel Sheila

I wrote a letter to Santa
To make sure he would know
It's only two weeks until Christmas,
And we still don't have any snow.

Just didn't want his reindeer
To have to work too hard.
I was afraid they might get stuck
In the mud outside in our yard.

I mailed my letter on Monday,
Only two days ago.
As I dropped it in the mailbox,
It slowly started to snow.

It's been snowing ever since,
More as each day goes by.
I'm getting kind of worried now
That Santa will think I lied.

I'll write another letter,
And mail it off today.
Tell Santa not to worry,
There'll be lots of snow for his sleigh.

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Every Day a Discovery on the Net

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JOHNS MIXED BAG BLOG  
will be updated every Friday

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