"This poem is about a type of holiday we celebrate in India."
The sweet smell of flowers
The array of colors
Diwali is here
Firecrackers are heard
Candles are lit
Children play
Presents are given
We pray to the gods
Diwali is here.
ChanukahChanukah is a blanket of joy,
when every child gets a brand new toy.
People dance and people sing,
Wondering what the next holiday will bring.
Children playing on a soft white cloud,
with dreidels and latkas all around.
What do we want?
What do we love?
I SEE
Glittering lights on the Christmas tree.
Sparkling crystals on the snow.
An angel on top of the tree.
I HEAR
The silent softly falling snow.
I imagine Santa's sleigh bells ringing.
Carolers joyfully singing.
I SMELL
The balsam fir Christmas tree.
Mama baking Great Grandma's Christmas bread.
Delicious cookies, cakes and candies
baking in the oven.
I TASTE
Yummy gingerbread.
Hot chocolate after coming in from the cold.
Peppermint candy canes from off the Christmas tree.
I TOUCH
Presents under the Christmas tree.
Santa, Santa
by Cathy Wood, age 9
Santa, Santa
Where are you tonight?
Up in the sky where the stars shine bright.
Santa, Santa
When will you be here?
After I'm asleep, I fear.
Santa, Santa
Come inside out of the cold.
Warm up your bones that are so old.
Santa, Santa
Make a cup of coffee
Thaw your whiskers so frosty
Santa, Santa
Do you like our tree?
It was decorated by Jami and me.
Santa, Santa
Our stockings are hung
Fill them with something fun.
Santa, Santa
Have a good night,
We will make sure to sleep tight.
On Chanukah night I am filled with glee,
for it's time to remember Judah Macabee.
On a cold night in December, Judah and his men,
Were brave and even braver, and fought the mighty Roman.
So when we look at a menorah, bright and gay and pretty,
We remember that we owe it all, to Judah and the Macabee.
Christmas Is...Christmas is sharing
Christmas is caring
Even when friends are far away
In our dreams we could get there by a big red sleigh
The grounds will be covered with fresh falling snow
And we'll be inside, warming our toes.
The presents are sparkling,
The dogs are barking.
The lights are gleaming.
and Gramma's cocoa is steaming.
My love is so bright
as I stand under the mistletoe tonight.
We're all waiting here for Santa and his reindeer.
So we can be together for the rest of the year.
Chanukah the festival of lights.
We celebrate for eight days and nights.
The game, "Dreidel" we play.
For a "Gimel" we pray.
The menorahs are beautiful sights.
The Maccabees were fierce, strong and brave.
For freedom to pray they did crave.
They fought the mean king,
it was a miraculous thing.
The Jews they happily did save.
- above poems originally published in the Holiday 1994 issue of ZuZu
Artwork from top: Chanukah table by Julie Blinbaum, age 10; Reindeer & tree by Emmie Cullen, age 7; Rudolph by Cathy Wood, age 7; Carribbean Santa by Jaime Houston, age 11; Christmas tree & Menorah by two students in Ms. Bozio's 5th grade class at P.S. 19 in NYC.
