Friday, December 12, 2014

Our Nativity - Stories in Daily Pictures


Our Family's Nativity Set
Photo by Amy LV



Students - This poem is true.  That's all there is to it.  I just wrote the truth.  Our family is Christian, and last week, when I set up our Nativity set on the second Sunday in Advent, I was struck by all of the stories it holds.  I remembered back to the childhood Nativity Set I loved playing with as a little girl, arranging the straw and the angel and shepherd over and over again.  I remembered when our friends Glenn and Paula gave Mark and I this Nativity set for our wedding twenty years ago.  I remembered where each piece of our Nativity has come from.  And I was grateful.

When it was time to write, the poem just showed up.  It may be the most personal poem I've shared here.  I wrote the words that asked to be written.

Today's poem is in free verse.  It does not have a special rhyme or meter that holds it together; it just sounds like talking.  But I did read it over and over again, out loud to myself, to listen to the music of the prose.

I wish you a week full of joyous surprises and small stories in dusty boxes.  The daily pictures that you see and fall in love with each day may be the very pictures that tell you exactly what to write in your own notebook.

Paul is graciously hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at These 4 Corners. Visit his online home to find all kinds of poetry goodness, all around the Kidlitosphere, all week long.

Please share a comment below if you wish.

16 comments:

  1. What a beautiful Nativity set you have! It makes for a lovely poem. I like your wish for "small stories in dusty boxes." Thanks, Amy :-)

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  2. Amy- This is beautiful. I have a huge lump in my throat. Somehow I think our willingness to accept, and yes, even our delight in the unmatchy stuff and the stories that accompany, is very pleasing in the eyes of that all loving Abba Father… Thank you!

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  3. Oh, Amy - on the surface, this poem (and picture) is just fun and colorful and joyous. (A piƱata?!) And deeper, I teared up reading it, because it's what this season is all about - One who accepts the misfits and outcasts of the world - and each of us - and asks us to do the same.

    Merry Christmas and thanks so much for sharing!!

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  4. Loved hearing all the little stories about your family Nativity Set. What sweet memories and in the true Christian spirit, "Everyone is welcome here." :)

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  5. So great! I love the photo and the poem.

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  6. I love the idea of adding to the Nativity set with other animals from friends. The story itself grows and deepens, just like any community does when new members are welcomed in. Thanks for sharing both the photo and the poem.

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  7. Your simple nativity shows the story in a tender way. Thanks for sharing a part of you too!

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  8. This is an adorable family tradition, Amy. Your poem is so inviting. I'll bet your students had some of their own unusual holiday traditions to share.

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  9. I love the story about your Nativity set. Another sweet poem! I'm so glad I got to meet you in person at NCTE! I'm really hoping to go again next year. I've been trying to come up with a proposal idea. Maybe after the holidays something will hit me, but time is running out!
    Have a great holiday!

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  10. This is a wonderful story, Amy. I love the festive colors of the animals hanging in the tree and the fact that "everyone is welcome here." Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Ma'am I have a question. I was wondering if you keep a separate journal for poetry only? or if you combine your daily life and thoughts journal with poetry? :)

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  12. Love that the dog chewing Baby Jesus set in motion a cascade of new visitors to your nativity set--it's easier to accept additions to the matched set after that first incident!

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  13. I love when those things we bring out from "dusty boxes" tell us stories, each one treasures to keep in our minds, and then, perhaps, poems. I love seeing the picture of your nativity, sharing the world really. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

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  14. Merry Christmas, Amy. To you and yours.

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