Don’t get me wrong, I don’t really dislike Christmas, but I certainly dislike the never-ending and relentless commercialization of what is supposed to be a religious celebration. I have to credit Amazon for doubling down on the holidays like never before because they’ve made it entirely too easy for people to overspend which in turn requires me to discipline myself like never before. Just too many gadgets, too many commercials and an endless supply of scammers who may be the hardest workers of all during the holidays. For every email I get from friends and family members, I get 100 from scammers and spammers. I’ve slowly been turned into a paranoid person like never before. It feels good to have the holiday over so I can get back to what I call normal (and I use that term loosely).

The post today will be taking a sharp left turn from the holidays to celebrate three things I love: poetry, young children, and Winter. Here are a few samples of great poetry by a few up-and-coming young poets.

By Gilliam Humphrey, Age 10, New Zealand

Winter stalks

At a steady pace.

Being sullen in choosing

The weather of tomorrow

The sour, chilly breeze

Sweeps the showery sky

The pods of rain

And minced mud

Bring forth a wintry day.

❄️❄️

By Thea Boughton, Age 11, United States

Fluttering helplessly

Buffeted, the bewildered starling

Pecks and shivers.

🏂🏻🏂🏻

By Harji Patel, Age 11, Kenya

It was a silent day, the trees didn’t move

Nobody bowed to the wind, the sun didn’t rise

The cold breeze blowed.

It was a naughty day that didn’t wake!

⛄⛄

By Diane Hill, Age 11, England

Slowly melting, slowly dying

My heart drops with the drips

The long finger of ice stretches out

And its tears roll off its tip.

🎿🎿

By David Lippu, Age 13, United States, a Haiku

First snowstorm romp . . .

Her puppy’s wet kiss

Froze on my sister’s glowing cheek.

❄️❄️❄️

A GREAT WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR

(Special Thanks to Richard Lewis)