Taking words underground

Sitting on the tube last night in banana milkshake/ white wine sugar/ alcohol haze I got a bit misty eyed reading Composed Upon Westminster Bridge.

I've always been a huge fan of Poems on the Underground and as I read my Wordsworth I was reminded of this story about train drivers effectively giving little readings on the tube- which I also think would be rather wonderful.

In the many years of visiting and living in London only a few times have I known tube drivers deviate from the script and it's always brought an enormous smile to the face of everyone in the carriage. Tourists especially looked delighted when they were told they could get off at Embankment to go and see the pigeons in Trafalger Square, or to ride the circle line round and round. I also always remember being wished a happy Christmas from all the staff on the Bakerloo line as I disembarked for Christmas two years ago and wanting to shout happy Christmas back to the driver.

Chistmas by John Betjeman

The bells of waiting Advent ring,
The Tortoise stove is lit again
And lamp-oil light across the night
Has caught the streaks of winter rain
In many a stained-glass window sheen
From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green.

The holly in the windy hedge
And round the Manor House the yew
Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,
The altar, font and arch and pew,
So that the villagers can say
'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial Public Houses blaze,
Corporation tramcars clang,
On lighted tenements I gaze,
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.

And London shops on Christmas Eve
Are strung with silver bells and flowers
As hurrying clerks the City leave
To pigeon-haunted classic towers,
And marbled clouds go scudding by
The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,
And oafish louts remember Mum,
And sleepless children's hearts are glad.
And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!'
Even to shining ones who dwell
Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall ?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me ?

And is it true ? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.

Picture from: http://www.londonmagicaltours.com/

In the Bleak Midwinter

I am not particularly religious but I have always enjoyed the Christmas story and I love carols.

In the bleak midwinter is a favourite. I love the description of a Narnia like (always winter but never Christmas) winter in the first stanza/ verse.

My favourite verse though is the final one. 'What can I can I give him, poor as I am?... give my heart'.


In the Bleak Midwinter
Christina Rosetti (1872)

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Poem/ carol courtesy of: http://poetry.about.com/library/weekly/blrossettichristmas.htm

Pictures courtesy of: www.franto.com/wallpaper-for-you