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| Candlestick Press September 2025 My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet |
Many of us still love the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree to bring the light indoors during the darkest days of winter.
This festive mini-anthology captures their special magic, so symbolic of family and spending time with loved ones. There are poems about choosing the right tree and carrying it home, being a tree in a forest in all the wonder of winter, even finding a small owl hiding in a tree’s branches over the holidays. There’s also a poem about a magnificent tree made entirely of books that tickles the ceiling.
Central to everything is the tree itself:
“…Inside, the tree
claims its space, cloaked in glitter,
wearing winter’s hush like a crown.”
from ‘Gown of Needles’ by Gail Lawler
These beautifully varied poems explore the importance of Christmas trees, alight with all our memories, sparkles and wishes.
Poems by Jeanette Burton, ee cummings, Olga Dermott-Bond, Robert Frost, Gail Lawlor, SinéadMorrissey, CP Neild, Rhonda Stephen’s, Molly Thapviwat and Polly Walshe.
Cover illustration by Sara Boccaccini Meadows.
🎅🏻 My Review..
I’ve had the same artificial Christmas tree for well over thirty years because having had adventurous cats it seemed safer not to give them the option of scrabbling through pine needles and overturning a real tree. So every year our faithful old tree comes out of its box in the loft and gets adorned with our favourite decorations. Delicate glass ornaments I bought from a local glass designer, magical figures chosen by my children when they were small, the remaining two baubles I purchased as a young bride for my first Christmas in my new home and now festive memories my grandchildren bring to the tree. All have special meaning and that is exactly what this lovely anthology shares with us, all those evocative memories which help to bring the light of Christmas into our hearts.
I especially loved this one as I attempted a book tree one year (see below)
“ We build our Christmas tree each year
pulling down books
from every shelf,
piling them up and up
on the living room floor “
From Our Book Tree (i) by CP Neild
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| My Book Tree ©Jaffareadstoo 2014 |
I look in awe at sumptuously decorated trees with everything perfectly matching with a specific colour scheme but if I’m really honest I prefer a hotch-potch Christmas tree which is decorated with lovely memories of the past, reflections of what has been, hope for the future.
This idea is beautifully shared in this lovely poem:
“ Every year we carry it up
from the basement-
a ritual of dust and remembering.
And every year
it stands again,
quietly holding
what we no longer can.”
From Inheritance by Molly Thapviwat
Beautifully presented with a colourful cover, Christmas Tree : Ten Poems of Wishes and Lights is a wonderfully evocative anthology of poems which touch the heart in a special way and with just a month to go before Christmas if you are looking for something special instead of a card then this anthology is a perfect gift for anyone who loves Christmas and especially Christmas trees 🌲
About the Publisher
Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.
Twitter/X @poetrycandle
Blue Sky @candlestickpress.bsky.social
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