Dad's own

[John]

Here's a little offering that I have wrested from my own heart today. What do you think? Would you care to offer a tune to go with it?

Let This Be Christmas

Let this be Christmas: you and I
And all the children we espy
In one exultant song to cry
An anthem to the Lord most high.
Gloria in excelsis!

Let joy and gladness be unfurled
As ensign to a weary world
That, though a heart be stiff and chilled,
Its dearest hope may be fulfilled.
Gloria in excelsis!

For Christ has massed his angels near
On either side the veiled sphere
As well today as yesteryear
To bring His tidings of good cheer.
Gloria in excelsis!

Let Christmas be for you and me
This year a tide of jubilee.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

© 2017 John Huntington

[jason]

I'll have no problem coming up with a melody.

[John]

With good counsel from Edward and Robert Stoddard, I'm going to change the second line to:

"And all our neighbors gathered by..."

The word "espy" seemed forced. And the new line seems to me to fit the overall message better. Yes? No?

[jason]

Agreed.

[Lily]

This is lovely, Dad. I hope things work out with a melody, sorry that's not something I can help with. Makes me excited for Christmastime!

[jason]

Call me sometime when you'd like to hear a melody or two. 253.353.2686

[Edward]

Glad you made that little change. Something about 'espying' on 'all the little children' seemed a bit ... sinister? to me. With the change I think it's absolutely lovely.

[John]

One does not "espy on". One espies. There is no sinister connotation to the correct use of that word. It simply means "to see" or "catch a glimpse of". Equating "espy" with "spying" would be like confusing "simple" with "simplistic". The roots are the same, but the meaning is very different.

Nonetheless, I think the change was an improvement. Thanks.

[John]

In preparation for my Saddleback Emeritus Chorale's concert, I've been searching for good poetry to intersperse throughout the program. The title of the concert this year is:

Christmas Wishes: Making Merry with Music

The programming includes music for Thanksgiving, Hannukah, and Christmas. Here's a little ditty that came to me today that I'm going to read at some point during the concert:

Holiday Wishes
by John Huntington

These, for you,
My holiday wishes:
For festive fare,
Your favorite dishes:

For some, the turkey,
For others, the knishes;
Yet others will crave
Their gefillte fishes.

Whether savory or sweet,
Prepped by mister or missuz,
May all of your feasting
This year be deliciouz!