Tuesday, December 25, 2012

TC: James Schuyler: December


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http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8a34000/8a34900/8a34929v.jpg

Hanging Christmas decorations in Providence, Rhode island: photo by Jack Delano, December 1940
 


........................................................................Il va neiger dans quelques jours

........................................................................FRANCIS JAMMES


The giant Norway spruce from Podunk, its lower branches bound,
this morning was reared into place at Rockefeller Center.
I thought I saw a cold blue dusty light sough in its boughs
the way other years the wind thrashing at the giant ornaments
recalled other years and Christmas trees more homey.
Each December! I always think I hate “the over-commercialized event”
and then bells ring, or tiny light bulbs wink above the entrance
to Bonwit Teller or Katherine going on five wants to look at all
the empty sample gift-wrapped boxes up Fifth Avenue in swank shops
and how can I help falling in love? A calm secret exultation
of the spirit that tastes like Sealtest eggnog, made from milk solids,
Vanillin, artificial rum flavoring; a milky impulse to kiss and be friends
It’s like what George and I were talking about, the East West
Coast divide: Californians need to do a thing to enjoy it.
A smile in the street may be loads! you don’t have to undress everybody.
..................................“You didn’t visit the Alps?”
..................................“No, but I saw from the train they were black
..................................and streaked with snow.”
Having and giving but also catching glimpses
hints that are revelations: to have been so happy is a promise
and if it isn’t kept that doesn’t matter. It may snow
falling softly on lashes of eyes you love and a cold cheek
grow warm next to your own in hushed dark familial December.


James Schuyler: December, from May 24th or So, 1966




http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c30000/3c30600/3c30627v.jpg

Ice skating in Rockefeller Center, New York, New York
: photo by John Collier, December 1941

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely Christmas poem!

Aram

TC said...

What a welcome Christmas visitor!

Big hugs!

vazambam (Vassilis Zambaras) said...

The ice skating figures
Familiar but the poem not—

I ditto what the not
So unfamiliar anonymous

Poet jot.

TC said...

In such company one feels snug as a bug in a rug even on a cold dark wet morning and even if such a bug would not perform well on ice skates.

(But some Californian bugs don't need to do a thing to enjoy it.)

lazer epilasyon said...

thaks my friend. i like your post.