Discovered in a Christmas Card - 25th December - The Meaning of Christmas by Melanie Athene

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Today's second offering is from Melanie Athene - thank you for sharing this with us!

The Meaning of Christmas
by Melanie Athene

What does Christmas mean to you?
Stacks of presents beneath a picture-perfect tree,
Peace on Earth, good will to men,
Fairy lights, Yule logs and carolling?

For me, it’s an obbo sitting in an icy car,
Tepid and bitter coffee my only feast.
It’s leaving that dubious shelter
To pursue some dirty, rotten bastard.

It’s pounding footsteps down dark alleyways,
And leaping like a reindeer from roof to roof.
The bark of gunfire is my Christmas cracker,
Blood blossoming like poinsettias in the snow.

It’s the horrid, hollow fear that fills me
When I see my partner drop.
It’s the joy that wells within my breast
When I see him rise again.

It’s rolling into bed long after midnight,
Tumbling into his waiting arms,
Falling into all the things that Christmas really means:
Laughter, comfort, love.
----

Title: The Meaning of Christmas
Author: Melanie Athene melanieathene
Gen/Slash: Slash
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Yes, please
Disclaimer: Not my lads, but I do like to play with them – or, better still, watch them play with each other. :)
Notes: Thank you hugs to cali_se for looking this over for me.

Comments

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!
Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ (https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqbrowse?faqid=303).

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

That was very nice. Thank you! I especially like the idea of watching them play with each other! :)

[melanieathene.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked the poem. :)

LOL! And yes, watching them play with each other would be a real treat.

[freetraveller15.livejournal.com]

You've done it again! Moved me almost to tears with your beautiful story. Which reads actually more like a poem. And I also love the fact that either of the lads could be speaking. My favourite part: It's the joy that wells within my breast
When I see him rise again.
It’s rolling into bed long after midnight,
Tumbling into his waiting arms,

Thank you so much! 😊

[melanieathene.livejournal.com]

I always start out with one lad speaking clearly in my mind. I'm amazed at how often it turns out I've written it so it could be either. :)

Very glad to hear you enjoyed the poem. Hope you had a good Christmas.

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Thank you - and sorry for being so late in commenting. I love it - it works beautifully, and read out loud, the rhythm of the words is perfect. Thank you again.

[melanieathene.livejournal.com]

There's no such thing as a late comment, especially at this busy time of the year!

Funny you should say that. Reading it out loud is what made me change it from a drabble to a poem. :)

Glad you liked it. Hope you had a good Christmas -- and Happy New Year!

"Tumbling into his waiting arms"

[longstrt.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful line. The thoughts are so true. Thanks for posting.

lbc

RE: "Tumbling into his waiting arms"

[melanieathene.livejournal.com]

Thank you!