A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN MARION

In December 2015, I wrote the blog below the *** break.  It seems like a message from a much different time–and it is.  So many things have changed. Kamiko, six years old in 2015, is now thirteen–thirteen going on twenty-two. She scrutinizes me carefully and doles out advice on my clothing and makeup and makes fun of my limited ability with my iPhone. Both of the uncles in the 2015 post became fathers in the past 2 years. The tipsy auntie is the mother of one of the babies–and the spiked coffee was a prop.

Marion, Massachusetts is a beautiful little town, a perfect setting for Dylan Thomas‘s famous poem,  “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”  It is lovely, particularly so when you hear it read by its author.  After a bit of searching, I found a free audio of Thomas reading it.  He had a wonderful voice and it’s worth listening to here.

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December 2015:  Last week I published a copy of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”  Now, Kamiko is back in Marion for Christmas, asking me if we can play all the games we did last year (games of which I have no memory), put the gingerbread house together RIGHT NOW and–although it’s midnight and all the adults are exhausted–play a quick game of charades before she sleeps.  So here is a reprise of  “A Child’s Christmas in Marion.”  Whatever holiday you do or do not celebrate this time of year, I hope you get some time off to enjoy yourself and I wish all of us a kinder, more peaceful year ahead.

With apologies to Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”

Sippican Harbor

 One Christmas was…like another in those years around the sea-town corner.

 Male Cardinal in his Petticoat

Birds the color of red-flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills

Church_

 It seemed that all the churches boomed for joy.

Miko and Lily

 Cats in their fur-abouts watched the fires.

There are always uncles at Christmas. The same uncles.

There are always uncles at Christmas.  The same uncles.

Auntie laced her tea with rum, because it was only once a year.

Looking through my bedroom window, out into the moonlight…I could see the lights in the windows of all the other houses on our hill….I got into bed.  I said some words to the close and holy darkness and then  I slept....and then I slept.

Merry Christmas 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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About Alexis

Alexis Rankin Popik, author of Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate, is an award-winning short story writer whose work has appeared in The Berkshire Review and Potpourri Magazine. She has penned numerous articles about local history that have been published in Connecticut Explored and the University of Connecticut School of Law and The Hartford Seminary publications. A former union organizer, Popik traveled the country educating shipyard workers about health and safety and founded a labor-management health plan before turning to writing fiction full-time. She lives with her husband in New England.
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