Merry Christmas to All
December 25, 2009 by wondersinthedark
In the Bleak Midwinter |
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Christina Rossetti (1872) |
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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.
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Posted in Uncategorized | 28 Comments
I’ll add a Merry Christmas to everyone here at WitD as well… the best movie spot on the ‘net, IMO. Be good and be safe, everyone.
Dave: Your compliments are always uncompromising, and I thank you exceedingly, and salute GoodFellas as a peerless plave for cinematic knowledge, passion and commitment. Merry Christmas good friend!
Have a great holiday Sam, Allan, Dee Dee, Tony and all the rest. Long time reader, I’ve not commented until now. I’ve enjoyed all the reviews and polls immensely.
Thanks very much for stopping by Ara, especially on this special day.
Bonjour!– Hello! Sam Juliano, Allan, Joel, Tony and all of the Wonders in the Dark readers…May you all have a…
…Joyeux Noël–Merry Christmas! a safe and pleasant New Year too!
(Here I go again for those of you who celebrate the Christmas season at least…
Tony, I hope that you enjoyed your trip and I ‘am glad that you had a safe journey. I plan to watch In the Valley of Elah over this long holiday.)
By the way, Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? I asked my good friend Diane, but she have not respond to my question yet…and Andrew, is off somewhere with his friends writing a film script. Therefore, this is why I ‘am asking you this question as I wait for a response from one of your fellow compatriot.
DeeDee 😉
Thanks DeeDee. Yes Christmas is observed here – more in the celebration than in recognition of its meaning. And we have a 4-day long weekend 🙂 God bless and keep you well dear lady.
Dear Dee Dee, thanks for the spirit you impart, not just on Christmas, but 365 days a year!
To everyone at WitD, A Merry Christmas and peace to everyone!
Same to you John, our very good friend. You and Dee Dee have really brought Christmas into focus at your blogs! Beautiful work!
This past year, My dear friend Sam Juyliano and I reconnected as friends after a long separation. He introduced me to WONDErS IN THE DARK as an outlet for me to test my opinions and theories in an open forum of intellectuals that shared the same passions and obsessions on cultural art that I had. I never thought I’d say that this site and the connections that I have made here really saved my life. I was wallowing in a quicksand of deadening cultural boredom that was turning me into a 9 to 5 drone that had no way of expressing himself. I’m not much for the holidays, but I am one for looking ahead to a fresh new year and showing thanks for what I have. So, I wanted to thank Sam, dear Sam, for getting me here. I wanted also to thank all the people here for accepting me and allowing me to connect. I consider you all great friends. MERRY CHRISTMAS and may you all see great health, peace and good fortune in 2010. Thanx, Dennis
Thanks very much Dennis, for that moving testimonial. Your presence here has been a boon not only to the site, but to me personally! Merry Christmas dear friend!
Merry Christmas all…
And a very happy new year for those going on a vacation…
JAFM! Thanks very much and the best to you always! Here’s to an upcoming year of the most exquisite and enriching discourse possible.
My best wishes to all who frequent WitD.
Sam has chosen a lovely poem from Christina Rosetti. At a time when families get together, it is worth remembering how important those close to us are, especially those who are elderly or in harm’s way and can be taken from us at any time. So as
Neil YoungStephen Stills sang “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”.By way of a segue, those familiar with the classic 1956 film noir, Kiss Me Deadly, will know that the girl Christina is named after Christina Rossetti, and that a recurring motif in the movie is Christina’s admonition to Mike Hammer to remember her, in a reference to Rosseti’s sonnet ‘Remember’:
“Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day,
You tell me of our future that you plann’d:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.”
Thanks for that priceless embellishment Tony, and yes, since a child I’ve always been fond of Ms. Rossetti, and I’ve never forgotten this beautiful chestnut. Thanks for those lines from REMEMBER too. The best always to our incomparable friend from Down Under.
Hi! Tony,
Right you are! about the beauty of the poem that Sam Juliano, has posted. But, when it comes to your info(rmation) about the 1956 film
Kiss Me Deadly I wasn’t aware of that fact. I will pay closer attention to Christina’s admonition to Mike Hammer (actor Ralph Meeker) the next time I watch the film Kiss Me Deadly.
Tony said, “At a time when families get together, it is worth remembering how important those close to us are, especially those who are elderly or in harm’s way and can be taken from us at any time.”
I agree with you wholeheartedly, when it comes to your comment above. By the way, How is your father? I hope that all is well with him (Mr.D’Ambra.)
Tony said,”Thanks DeeDee. Yes Christmas is observed here – more in the celebration than in recognition of its meaning. And we have a 4-day long weekend…”
Thanks, for sharing this very important information… because I wasn’t aware that “some” (or all) Australian,just celebrate Christmas, but not recognize its meaning.
Tony, may you, your family have a pleasant, safe 4-day holiday…
…There is this fellow blogger who live in France, that said,” she would like to wish or send out “comforting thoughts” to those who(m) this season isn’t such a “happy” occasion.”
I truly wish that I would have spoken those words…first, but instead, I have added her words as an addendum to my comment.
Take care!
DeeDee 😉
and our Best to all of you too.
Thanks to DD, and interaction here with Sam, this is indeed the best place on the internets for film, not only reviews, but insight into films long in the past and forgotten by many.
Cheers!
Thanks to a very lovely person, whose appearances have brightened teh landscape here immeasurably! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you dear friend!
Happy Holidays to all those connected with this great blogsite.
Thanks Paul, and Happy Holidays!
Actually, “Love the One You’re With” is a Stephen Stills tune, but a very very Merry Christmas to all at WitD. I’m honored to have been one of many voices here in the last year.
Yes, Jon, you’ve been a very special voice, and where you have it over just about all the other “scholarly” bloggers is that you have a terrific personality to boot. That’s quite the rarity, and it’s an honor to know you.
Late to the party, but Merry Christmas again to all. I concur with all the sentiments – my blogging year has simply been dominated by Wonders in the Dark, no question about it. Like many others, I find it a marvellous respite and refueling station from the slings and arrows of the daily grind. Here’s to a great new year!
Ah, Movie Man, you have quite certainly taken up permanent residence at these halls, and it’s been a far better place as a result. We’ve been fortunate not only to receive the most prolific and consistently excellent plethora of comments from you, but we’ve also benefitted immensely from your exquisite Boston Examiner essays. It’s been a perfect marriage.
Late to the party too, but I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.
Beautiful poem. There’s a carol setting of the poem by Holst that is absolutely gorgeous. One of my favorite Christmas carols.
Allison, I didn’t realize that Holst had set these words to music, but thanks so much for bring it to my attention. I will search it out.
And a very Happy New Year’s to you my local friend!
A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
And same to you Stephen. Here’s to another year of fabulous film discussion!