For the entire month of December, our ILA Magazine group on Facebook offered a Christmas Themed Prompt, and asked the question, "What does Christmas mean to you?" Out of the thirty-four entries, we picked seven. Included in this special edition of the Blog, we are also adding two poems randomly picked, written by Elaine Yanni Fink and Rosemarie Miranda, featured after the Best Entries. Christmas in Calcutta

Calcutta and Park Street
even the rickshaw pullers
poverty lit up with lights
and a quaint smile
the old man tree took on a glitter
speaking singing shadows grew
crossing the river illuminating
the Howrah bridge
a saxophonist's long draw restlessness
an aroma of homemade wine
still pierces an aging
mind.


© Amitabh Mitra A Blessing in Disguise

Christmas is the moment
where very soul meets
to greet each other!
They don't want to miss that
wonderful touch!
Boon for every poor man!
He's fed wholeheartedly!
Sick people in hospital
smile a lot!
Depressed beings have
something good to
look forward!
If so many earthlings are
happily celebrating,
why can't I dance and sing
with the notes of their joyous heart??


© Sonal Rao What Christmas Means to Me Universal celebration for rejoicing
paying homage to the King of Kings.
Christmas carols so melodic,
Hark the angels also sing,
Christmas in its finest cloak of unification,
cultivating peace, equality, love, hope,
for all mankind.
Christmas...festivities so delightful
a coming together of faith, such a cheerful season,
oft sad for those not abundant with blessings, family,
friends, God in their lives.


© Shenni Waldron Christmas

Christmas is a great reminder,
of man's Great Redeemer.
The birth of Christ, who's aves us from our sins,
the greatest manifestation of love the world has ever seen.

The message of love, hope and faith
that the world badly needs and seeks
it is symbolized by a celebration of Christmas,
a moment of thanksgiving, sharing and re-connecting
with those who missed us.

Though we have varying spiritual views
the spirit of love and giving among men should never
be an issue.
Respect for each other is what humanity needs today,
to assure tranquility, peace and harmony to stay!


© Joey V. Fernandez Christmas Monologue

Will you come back this Christmas?
When the December sun pulls together through the alley
the bamboo bank swings and calls to the wind
swallows call the flock to the spring ball...

I'm still looking forward to this Christmas
the day is still long...still a lonely garden.
The girl from the past is no longer a baby.
Why does the rose flower quickly fade?

My heart will be close to each other
like flowers and butterflies on a busy spring day.
Christmas is here...why are you so far away
in the middle of Christmas, my heart suddenly ached.


© Nguyễn Thanh Hai (Vietnam) Christmas

When I think of Christmas in my old age
I want to put Christ's manger in my heart
I want to feel his presence daily
I want to enjoy love and peace before I leave
There were times in the past when my life was rough
I did not have the chance to feel what is true love.
There were struggles and battles in life that made me miserable
but now that I have come to know the Lord, I have found peace.
For me, it is always Christmas albeit of the festive trimmings and decorations.
The presence of the Lord in my life is like a shining star
on top of a Christmas tree
It lights my path as I walk in the dark,
when my life did not have the slightest spark
Though my life is simple, it is enough for me to feel
the spirit of Christmas in my heart. © Dolores Lapinid What Christmas Really Means?

Oh, what a wonderful time of the year!
A wondrous moment to ponder what Christmas really means to me.
Christmas is more than a decoration of Christmas trees with their colorful lights
not only to adorn the place but how it enlightened the cored of the heart.
It is more than singing carols or a parade of lovely lanterns
Not just a festivity but a joyous celebration of a grateful heart. It is more than exchanging gifts or making fun full of sweet surprises
Not only a lovely demonstration of merriments but out from a giving heart.

It is more than reunions of family and friends or sending greetings
for the Yuletide season
Not a mere outward expression of affection but from the depths
of a loving heart

It is receiving and remembering the greatest and glorious gift of all; the birth of the Savior of the World, the true reason for the season that truly can hold by one's precious heart and soul till eternity.... © Lyn B. Pastrana New Dawn

Did you hear the sounds of dawn
awakening from slumber
Did you hear he chorus of Angels
singing the age of wonder.
Did you hear raindrops
pattering music all night long.
Listen carefully.
You can hear the Universe
reverberating with a
splendid cacophony.
Majestic sounds echoing
throughout
Heavens, Earth and Sea.
Peace on Earth!
Good will to men.
Magical, enchanting music
from the Cosmic source.
Heralding a song,
A Babe is born in Bethlehem.
Come adore Him.
Awake from cumbersome sleep
Hear the sounds of Heaven
resounding a chorus sweet
awakening inspiring
heartening life Divine. © Elaine Yanni Fink © Arteza Pencils Drawing by Elaine Yanni Fink Red and Green (Daily Dipolog Glimpses) This giant red and green ribbon
lording over the entrance now
of the seat of service of the province
symbolizes unity, amity of God's creations
together, blessings make things happen.
Green like the vegetables sprouting
in countrysides, galore and counting
red like the love for everyone in sight.
Twinkling lights add color to the night
because life is a mixture of colors
the yellows and blues are there, alright
but red and green spell magic in the air
for all to reflect and some to stare
this season of love good tidings we share.


© Rosemarie Miranda © Photography by Rosemarie Miranda 12.03.21