82 Comments
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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

What a lovely Christmas poem and so nicely illustrated. Perfect for the week that's in it! Well done, Paul!

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Martin. I’m a long way from Ireland, but I send you my best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Snow angels In fresh powder find

A finished result

Wings with white feather down

Lift the spirits to sky bound.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

If we could be bound to the sky and see the world below in the bird’s eye perhaps our troubles would look so small that we would pay no heed at all.

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

An observation from afar by an eagles eye which Carrie’s truth to those standing by. May your heath be warm and Yule log in fire.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for the restack, @Pamela Leavey

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for the restack, @Lique and Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas!

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Lique's avatar

Same to you and your family, Paul!

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Lor's avatar

Though I do not know how to generate an AI picture, I have created one in my mind for the sender of beautiful words; It truly is a bitter cold day here in VT, an icy 3 degrees. Not a howling north wind, more of a hum, snow lays in quilted mounds of 8”, diamonds dust the surface. While I unfortunately was not dressed for carving a snow angel with my body, my pup Ranger did a most delightful rendering. We scored him a 10! But the surprise of the morning, not a Falcon, but an Eastern Bluebird, spectacularly framed on a branch of snowy white. Never in my life have I seen one in Winter. My mom would have said; “ make a wish, that is a sign of good luck”, and so I did. I have packaged up these memories of this morning , of the new season of winter, to send them off to you . Best wishes, heed the signs . Thank-you, Paul.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Lor—These are wonderful images that should live in memory from this point on—Merry Christmas!

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Lor's avatar

Thank you! The plain gorgeous truth of this morning.❄️

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Patris's avatar

What a beautiful image of winter

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

All my Christmases sort of melt into that vision of the poem, probably because there are too many to remember! Thank you, Patris.

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Lor's avatar

Your very welcome

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Paul McCutchen's avatar

You have to think of a "birds eye view" of things. My parents used to have a four-passenger plane behind their house that I learned to fly. Dad wanted me to go get his sister, which I had done many times in Missouri. A big snowstorm had hit a day before, but the weather was clear. After clearing the runway, I took off. When I got some altitude, I realized everything was white on top. The ground, buildings, houses so any distinguishing markings were gone. I used radio navigation to get up there and the old tried and true IFTH (I fly the highway) to get back to mom and dads. Dad took her home a few days later but everything was clear then. So, I can feel the falcon getting lost in flight. Merry Christmas.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

How old were you when you learned to fly, Paul?

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Paul McCutchen's avatar

I was in my early 20’s and I am 72 now. Haven’t flown in over 30 years

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Very young and without wings.

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Patris's avatar

What an amazing memory!

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I think I wrote the original version of this in 1994, but I lost it and sort of reconstructed it in 2018 or so.

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Chen Rafaeli's avatar

May you never be lonely, dear Paul. Always surrounded by your loved ones.

Thank you for everything, -and Merry Christmas

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Chen, I make the same wishes for you.

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

No snow here

To shovel away

Just sun and egrets

Fill this day

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I will not begrudge you your sunshine, Malcolm, nor your lack of snow.

Merry Christmas to you and yours and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

Merry Christmas Paul. May the happy innocent, precious child in each of us see the joy in the gift of your poem today.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Kathleen!

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Mary Pierce's avatar

Delightful! Peace to you this wintry day.🙏

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Good Sunday, Mary!

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Jane Deegan's avatar

This is beautiful as are the images

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Jane & Merry Christmas!

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Jane Deegan's avatar

Thanks, Paul! Merry Christmas to you too!

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On Balance's avatar

Merry Christmas to you Paul.

Thank you for breathing calm into the storm.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Merry Christmas, Jamesina, and thank you for reading and commenting!

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Hal Grotevant's avatar

Merry Christmas, Paul!

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Merry Christmas, Hal—Enjoy your trip!

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Steve Kelsey's avatar

Wonderful Paul. Happy Christmas to you.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Steve & a Happy Christmas to you and yours.

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Pharmboy's avatar

I hope you have as beautiful holiday as this poem. Thank you so much, Paul.

Merry Christmas, peace to you and yours.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Best to you, too, Hudson--Thank You!

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Pharmboy's avatar

Likewise. 😉✌️🤟🤙

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C.J. Heck's avatar

This is beautiful, Paul!

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, C.J.- Had to post something seasonal. I have a solstice poem but I missed it announcing my book!

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