Florida didn’t seem like Christmas to me,
snowless and palmed, the only white
the sugared sand beaches of the Gulf
where I chose shells to fill wire baskets
for my mother and sister
I strung shells with peacock feathers,
crafting dreamcatchers
and shaped wire baskets, made soap
and somehow those things, picked or twisted
by these hands seemed more something
of me given than ever,
the most me
since the gifted handprints in clay
or the sketched silhouettes from second grade
instead of something artisan
or expensive–yes, wrapped
in small pieces, brilliant shards
of spirit
I gave more of me that year–
the year I said I had nothing
to give, I gave presence
inside presents
Susan Daniels Poetry 
the presence of someone’s presence, the love that flows into hand-made things.. shards of spirit…yep. def. much more precious than something that you can buy for money..
Oh, thank you, Claudia! Great prompt today–had to yank my head out of Mesopotamia (where it wants to stay today) to write this, and I am glad I did. Wonderful holiday prompt.
Super nice. Lovely. We used to make absolutely all our presents – I mean, my kids and I. Not all, but most and they still make tons of jams and pickles. But these sound pretty. k.
Karin–thanks! I have to say these were the most I enjoyed giving since I was a child. Oh, one year I gave away loads of ground cherry jam & exotic pickles from my garden–that was fun!
presense instead of presents is not abad thing at all…and i imagine will make far more memories that last than something that will be forgot soon enough…did a few christmas’ in florida…its def different…i did like the floating light parade with the boats…and at city center they made it snow and had victorian santa and elves…merry christmas!!!
Yes, interesting I remember that Christmas as one of the best. And yes, the Florida Christmas was still Christmas, even sans snow, because the spirit was there. Merry Christmas to you too, Brian.
I love that last stanza ~ our presence in our presents ~
Wishing you and your family Merry Christmas ~
Oh, Grace–thank you, and the same to you and yours.
Presence is always preferable to presents. I love hand made gifts but rarely give them. Your lovely piece is a present…thanks…
Oh, thank you so much!
Yeah, balls to that – Your dream catchers in the return post – where’s my feckin XBox!
Um… I liked, though I found I had to read:
by these hands seemed more something of me given
than ever, the most me
since the gifted handprints in clay
Several times to get the run of it – it could be just me. but is there a way to make the tense shifts and sentence flow a little more guided?
by these hands seemed more something
of me given than ever,
the most me
since the gifted handprints in clay
Maybe? Just a thought 😉 Now get down the shops and buy me some shit!
LOL! That’s the problem with these draft poems…I shall work on the flow. Heading out now to fetch your X-box. 😉
Awesome – brain drain here we come 😉
Used your suggestion here, Panda/Mike–think it works better! Did you buy me loads of material goodness to ship to the US for me yet? 😉
No costume jewelry, friend–I only wear the good stuff…
Shit. I’ll take this crap back to Argos then! Fussy fussy!
LOL!
Sometimes the best present we can possibly give is the give of giving ourselves in the love with which we do give. This is beautiful.
I cannot imagine a Christmas with No cold and or …snow.
I just had the one without both. It was…different.
“I gave more of me that year–
the year I said I had nothing
to give, I gave presence
inside presents”
You surely did! A lovely write Susan.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Anna :o[
Thank you Anna, and merry Christmas to you too!
I remember one Christmas where we all just happened to make gifts for each other–it wasn’t planned –it just happened–your piece reminded me of that—such a lovely write Susan–Happy Holidays to you!
oh, Audrey, thanks for your comment! I love the time and energy it takes when someone gives you a made gift. Makes it all the more special. Thanks for liking this and merry Christmas to you.
Forget the “bling” Like the old Uncle Sam poster says, “I want you!” Because when we give ourselves and are fully present to those around us – that’s the best gift we can give.
In fact you just inspired me….
Glad to hear that, Terry!
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Susan, this is so beautiful. handmade presents are the best… they say so much more than the ‘clutter’ we buy.
i loved this… just wonderful.
Miriam, oh, thank you so very much! Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas 🙂
Susan, i enjoyed this poem very much. And I do think it is true that often when a person has the least monetarily they give the most special presents, as there is thought and love inside even the ‘simplest treasure,’ and the presentation is, as you said, filled with PRESENCE. Do have a merry Christmas.
Mary, thank you, and I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday.
I love this! The truth within is one each of us should grab hold of and never release. For my closest friends, I always create. You have nudged me toward doing this for all.
http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2012/12/22/gods-talking-to-you/
Kim, thank you so much!
Gorgeous. The description and the feelings described. I like that this is Christmas giving from a different angle.
Holly, thanks. I still love your poem best of all I have read today on this prompt.
What a a wonderful piece, from a lovely soul.
Celestine, you are wonderful!
Nice… one does not need snow and cold to make a memorable Christmas.
Nope–just have the spirit of it intact.
wonderful gifts! wonderful words!
Merry Christmas!
♥
Thank you, Dani–merry Christmas to you too!
Sadly the only time I remember making gifts was when I was younger and those times have long past, nice sentiment in this Susan. 🙂
Wishing you a very merry christmas to you and yours.
Oh, thank you Rambles! Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Good poem Susan, very thight especially the ending.>KB
KB, thank you so much & happy holidays to you!
The best gift ever, to come visiting! One’s presence is more than any present that money can buy! Merry Christmas to you Susan!
Hank
Hank, thank you & I agree–merry Christmas to you too!
Aw ‘presence inside presents’ how clever ~ lovely poetry, Susan. Seasons Greetings. 🙂
Polly, thank you & happy holidays!
Love handmade Christmas presents… we had one year where everyone had to make each other gifts, it was the best and funniest Christmas ever…we’ve vowed to do it next year…the request came to late for this one… Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
O)h, what a marvelous, fun, and heartwarming idea! Hope you do it next year. Merry Christmas to you!
ah, the very best gift — when not crowded out by a real Christmas
That’s it, Sabio! Merry Christmas to you & yours!
..i gave presence inside presents…ah yes… a money-deaf gift, ain’t it…? thank you for the poem…
Merry Christmas to you and family…
smiles…
THanks so much, Kelvin–I wish the same to you and yours 😉
This is a wonderful poem. I love this part:
“and somehow those things, picked or twisted
by these hands seemed more something
of me given than ever”
Thank you, Jasmine…and merry Christmas.