The Christmas Life

Wendy Cope

“If you don’t have a real tree you don’t bring the Christmas life into the house” Josephine Mackinnon, aged 8

Bring in a tree, a young Norwegian spruce,

Bring hyacinths that rooted in the cold.

Bring winter jasmine as its buds unfold -

Bring the Christmas life into this house.

Bring red and green and gold, bring things that shine,

Bring candlesticks and music, food and wine.

Bring in your memories of Christmas past.

Bring in your tears for all that you have lost.

Bring in the shepherd boy, the ox and ass,

Bring in the stillness of an icy night,

Bring in the birth, of hope and love light

Bring the Christmas life into this house.

The Guardian