Christmas Eve

The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming ABAB in which the second and fourth lines of a quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the succeeding quatrain; each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme as BCBC, CDCD. The first line of the series recurs as the last line of the closing quatrain, and third line of the poem recurs as the second line of the closing quatrain, rhyming ZAZA.

Christmas Eve

A strung together bundle of neatly wrapped parcels in hand
A soft, warm scarf wrapped tight about my throat
Through frosty storefront windows, shops busily manned –
With a cloudless sky above, full of snowflakes afloat

A soft, warm scarf wrapped tight about my throat
The joyful sound of yuletide carols dancing through the streets
With a cloudless sky above, full of snowflakes afloat
Children set out plates for Santa, St. Nick, all full of treats

The joyful sound of yuletide carols dancing through the streets
Rows of trees, long been missing leaves, wrapped in Christmas lights
Children set out plates for Santa, St. Nick, all full of treats
While family and friends hurry to last minute flights

Rows of trees, long been missing leaves, wrapped in Christmas lights
Parents put out presents, fill stockings, and put together bicycles
While family and friends hurry to last minute flights
Inside; warmth, togetherness, and singing melting Winter icicles

Parents put out presents, fill stockings, and put together bicycles
As music and laughter of love and peace drift from place to place
Inside; warmth, togetherness, and singing melting Winter icicles
The only thing needed to warm the air, a loving embrace

As music and laughter of love and peace drift from place to place
One last ornament to place, one last ribbon or bow
The only thing needed to warm the air, a loving embrace
As lovers carefully place themselves beneath the mistletoe

One last ornament to place, one last ribbon or bow
Everything must be perfect, for tomorrow is Christmas morn
As lovers carefully place themselves beneath the mistletoe
In front of fireplaces, wrapped up in blankets worn

Everything must be perfect, for tomorrow is Christmas morn
In the spirit of the season, you must believe
In front of fireplaces, wrapped up in blankets worn
The simple things become magical, tonight is Christmas Eve

In the spirit of the season, you must believe
It’s a time to be with family, with friends, and with love
The simple things become magical, tonight is Christmas Eve
The spirit surrounds, from all around and up above

It’s a time to be with family, with friends, and with love
Through frosty storefront windows, shops busily manned
The spirit surrounds, from all around and up above
A strung together bundle of neatly wrapped parcels in hand