Holiday Haiku

Now, with the year's close
Keep close that which brings great joy
Singing to the skies

Erika Foin, St. Paul, MN

May meetings be few and focused
May they upgrade vending machines

May the lunch counter start serving mochas
May bathroom stalls always be clean

May you only get relevant email
May compliments flow your way

May casual wear be discovered on sale
May you finish your task list each day

Janis Van Brunt, Verona, WI

Irony

When yound and pretty,
You think yourself witty,
But the substance just isn't there.

Whe old and bitter,
You're no quitter,
But you've more substance than you can bear.

Karen Luoma-Varichak, Minneapolis, MN

A Toast to the Infidel

May you attempt little.
Succeed at even less.
And be caught at nothing.

Jim Hazzard, Minnetonka, MN

Children's Special Christmas Gifts

The pleasure of playing with the box - and the toy.
The innocence of believing in Santa Claus.
The joy of anticipating his visit.
The delight of seeing the Christmas lights.
The wonder of hearing the Christmas story for the first time.

Kathy Olson, Thief River Falls, MN

Winter Warmth

bitter weather
shivering cold
icey snow
glistening gold

winter warmth
through family love
fires burning
God above

Chanukah
holiday of light
miracle of oil
menorah burning bright

one little light
burning eight days long
in Jerusalem's Temple so great
celebrate with song

happy days
delicious food
join together
joyous mood

Miriam Maister, St. Paul, MN

Peace to you. There is plenty to share and there are many good people in our world.

Joy to you. Listen to great music. Take time to imagine.

Hope to you. Our world is a wonder, filled with promise.

John Pellegrini

Winter Enlightenment

To winter, ice and snow
Minnesota hearty, frigid soul.
Long shadows, sun dogs, short days
frozen footprints pass away.
Soundless black nights, skies of crystalline lights
hang in air too cold to breathe.
Stinging cold bites the flesh
numbs the body, dulls the wits,
awakens the witness in us all.

Joe Heck, St Louis Park, MN

A Post Toastie

To you a Merry Christmas,
a Happy Hanukkah,
and a New Year filled with
new beginnings,
second chances,
and no need of last resorts.

Kristen Mathisen, Shoreview, MN

salting the earth, a job done by hand
and Mozart if ears are needed
it is for the high season
when men stomp slowly - with both feet
like Indians; solemnly pushing the snow
further toward the ground.
fists kept in their pockets

Eric Dreyer Smith, East Grand Forks, MN

Solstice Greetings

Below bare branches bent by snow
Four cros confer, cast glances low
Eyes brightened by experience
Stake claims to dreams that others missed

Some magic here finds dreams increased
Old rivals pause and claims release
Confiding crows decide to share
What others deemed to slight for care

Ellen Lowery, White Bear Lake, MN

With Spring in our spirits
And spirits in our glasses
Let us "skoal" to spry lads
And all spirited lasses

Bragi Magnusson, Fridley, MN

A Toast to the Season

Jeweled nights and glistening days,
Join this Season's hymns of praise;
Readied feast and tree aglow,
Revelry of friends we know.

Lift we now our glasses high!
Coaxing cherubs from the sky;
Toast we with unbridled mirth
New Year's joy and Savior's birth!

Brother Aaron Raverty, O.S.B., Collegeville, MN

A Toast

I toast the gifts come down on Christmas

The gift of JOY for our souls
The gife of LOVE for our hearts
And the gift of HOPE for our minds

May we receive them with thankfulness
and may we make them a part of our lives
in the new year to come.

SeonaCherie Hansen, Brookly Park, MN

Merry Christmas! - Too

Yule is here - be jubilant!
Count your blessings, and rejoice -

buy a kid an ELEPHANT,
or some Techno Toys.

Help the dog, that ran astray -
on the icy street -

help someone in disarray,
back onto his feet.

Good is not on abstract force -
good is what you do.

You'll remember this, - of course.
Merry Christmas! - too.

Art Schattauer, Minneapolis, MN

May this Christmas find us humble in success, patient in adversity, hopeful in discouragement, and generous in prosperity.
May we give thanks rather than complain, encourage rather than chide, and heal rather than wound.
Let us overcome want with generosity, defeat loneliness with friendship, and conquer hate with love.

Mike Anderson, Lake Elmo, MN

A Christmas Wish

Let the cathedral beels proclaim
The beauty of this day
Let graciousness be in your heart
And companssion guide your way
And may all those who would despair
Be gladdened through your special prayers
Accept the gift bestowed from above
And replenish your spirit with
His peace, joy, and love.

Nuala Galbari, Minneapolis, MN

A New Year's Toast

She appears in gold and fancy clothes
Open the west door, out the old year goes
She crawls and is as naked as my chin
Open the east door, let the new year in.

Daryl Hawkins, Hopkins, MN

The light flickers in my mother's eyes,
And I remember the women who risked their lives,
In a time when the Jews were afflicted by Greeks,
And Jewish lives depended upon the Maccabbees.
But behind the scenes of their fateful acts,
It was the women who kept the nation intact.

N.B., Age 15

May the world spin peacefully.
May we all live peacefully each and every one of us no matter who we are.
May the weak become strong and the poor become rich.
May all violence turn into peace.
May the world rejoice with happiness.

A. B., Age 10

A Toast

I wish everyone happy holidays and if you don't get what you want, act like it's great. I also want to wish you good health and if you don't have it, go to a doctor. We've had a great year, the best to you all and Merry Christmas.

C.P.

May the best of cheer be with you and yours through the bleakest of winters.
May the snowy winds never chill your bones.
May warmth and glow lace your lives forever,
and let the beauty of the winter ice caress your eyes.

C. B., Age 9

Holiday Tidings

Good tidings to everyone, especially Randy Moss who is a force of nature and cannot be stopped. May your holiday be merry and filled with images of the Vikings winning the Super Bowl. Happy Holidays!!!

R.S., Grade 8

My Holiday Toast

Good tidings to my mom for being able to last another full year with me. I have to admit I haven't been the best kid.

A.K., Grade 8

Toast or Tidings

I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I also hope you like presents. Have fun playing in the snow. Have good times with your family and friends during this holiday season. May this be your best Christmas yet.

E.G., Grade 8

A Toast

During this Christmas season, may
Your health be always warm with the light of a fire,
Your door firmly shut against wind and snow,
And your heart open toward the babe born in Bethlehem.

E.B.

Snow Blanket

Let the world be filled with snow.
Let the ground shimmer with crystals of white wonder.
Let the trees sleep in harmony under their soft blanket.
Let the Christmas joy surround the world's peace.
Let the world be filled with snow.

J.C., Age 11