It’s the third Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for A Gathering of Poetry - welcome!
I just came across this poem and it evoked such a lovely picture in my mind that I thought it was one worth sharing.
Christmas Mailby Ted Kooser Cards in each mailbox,
angel, manger, star and lamb,
as the rural carrier,
driving the snowy roads,
hears from her bundles
the plaintive bleating of sheep,
the shuffle of sandals,
the clopping of camels.
At stop after stop,
she opens the little tin door
and places deep in the shadows
the shepherds and wise men,
the donkeys lank and weary,
the cow who chews and muses.
And from her Styrofoam cup,
white as a star and perched
on the dashboard, leading her
ever into the distance,
there is a hint of hazelnut,
and then a touch of myrrh.
Cards in each mailbox,
angel, manger, star and lamb,
as the rural carrier,
driving the snowy roads,
hears from her bundles
the plaintive bleating of sheep,
the shuffle of sandals,
the clopping of camels.
At stop after stop,
she opens the little tin door
and places deep in the shadows
the shepherds and wise men,
the donkeys lank and weary,
the cow who chews and muses.
And from her Styrofoam cup,
white as a star and perched
on the dashboard, leading her
ever into the distance,
there is a hint of hazelnut,
and then a touch of myrrh.
The Mister was a letter carrier for 37 years and had a little truck just like that one. We lived on his route and he would stop at home to warm up on snowy days like that. At Christmas we always reminisce about the mountain of gifts he would bring home. His customers were always so generous.
ReplyDeleteOh Bonny... (and dear Ted!!) This is a lovely, lovely poem. The imagery in this poem is perfection. (and I agree with Ted that civil servants are indeed wise people. I speak from experience... I had an uncle who was a wise rural route mail carrier his entire career. He would have loved this poem as well!)
ReplyDeleteTed Kooser always nails it, doesn't he? What a lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteI just love this poem, Bonny. What a perfect December poem . . . and now I'm going to listen to my mailbox each day when I go out to pick up the mail! Thanks so much for sharing this one. XO
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful poem, and a wonderful tribute to the unsung heroes of the post office, Bonny. This is a perfect December poem.
ReplyDelete"and then a touch of myrrh." Perfect. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteWhat a lovely poem! Ted Kooser really has such skill with taking the simple and mundane and elevating them. And now I'm imagining tiny camels and sheep inside a mailbox!
ReplyDelete