Extremely sad news about Harry Wheeler..

God bless Harry and the family he's left behind. He wrote so beautifully and straight from his warm heart. I shall remember him fondly.

Cathy and Sue, I too have been thinking of Alan.

I knew Harry from our Mary Queen of Scots site. I used to ask him for a poem and he would always oblige. Such wonderful poetry and sensitivity he was a kind noblel man I will truly miss him. Glad to see you felt the same way.

Regards 

Christmas is often a very sad time for many, especially those who've lost a loved one in the past year.  Here are a couple of poems that became very dear to me ever since my son died in 1993.  There's always an empty chair at the table and I post these for Harry and Lyn and their grieving families:

I question if Christmas can ever be “merry,”

Except to the heart of an innocent child–

For when time has taught us the meaning of sorrow

And sobered the spirits that once were so wild,

When all the green graves that lie scattered behind us

Like milestones are marking the length of the way

And echoes of voices that no more shall greet us

Have saddened the chimes of the bright Christmas Day—

We may not be merry, the long years forbid it,

The years that have brought us such manifold smarts,

But we may be happy, if only we carry

The Spirit of Christmas deep down in our hearts.

Hence I shall not wish you the old “Merry Christmas,”

Since that is of shadowless childhood a part,

But one that is holy and happy and peaceful,

The Spirit of Christmas deep down in your heart.

Author unknown

This one's by Frances Ridley Havergal.  It's called "Bells Across the Snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
    Is it really come again,
With its memories and greetings,
    With its joy and with its pain?
There's a minor in the carol,
    And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
    With the holly wreath to-night.
And the hush is never broken
    By laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
    To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
    'Tis not so very long
Since other voices blended
    With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing
    As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
    Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no sigh to smother,
    No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
    To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
    This never more can be;
We cannot bring again the days
    Of our unshadowed glee.
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
    Sweet herald of good-will,
With holy songs of glory
    Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
    And patient love may glow,
As we listen in the starlight
    To the "bells across the snow."

Dear Group

Truly glad I have found this group, feel like Harry led me here as he knew how much I loved poetry, although my father was a poet I am not. Thank you for your poems on Christmas.

Kind Regards

Colleen