🎅🏻 Festive Read ~ Christmas Tree : Ten Poems of Wishes and Lights from Candlestick Press

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

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

Website

📖 Book Review ~ Christmas Walk : Twelve Poems for Rosy Cheeks

 

Candlestick Press
September 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet

The antidote to festive stodge and too much television, a Christmas walk has become as traditional as turkey and crackers. Whatever the weather, we don hats, scarves and boots to venture outside. The point is to crunch over snow, stamp through puddles or just to breathe the different air – all while sharing time with loved ones.

In these twelve poems – the winners in our seasonal competition – we experience everything from a holly-gathering expedition in a country lane, to a beach in Australia where “the sand is white as snow”. Over and again comes the idea that a walk can be a pilgrimage, sparking memories and a sense of the abiding presence of the past:

“I once walked up the lane with my children

by moonlit snow, power lines down – in the deepest dark

they had ever known; we made a small hand-held line…”

from ‘A low owl at Christmas’ by Valerie Bence

Poems by Bill Adair, Valerie Bence, Jane Burn, Martyn Crucefix, Kerry Darbishire, Marie-Louise Eyres, Annie Kissack, Aoife Mannix, Charlotte Oliver, Penny Sharman, Giles Watson and Miriam Wei Wei Lo.

Cover illustration by Jenny Hancock

📖 My Review..

There is nothing more special than a Christmas walk especially if there is a covering of snow on the ground, experiencing those muted sounds which seem to enclose you in a magical world. The twelve lovely poems in Christmas Walk describe the sights, sounds and sensations of walking off the Christmas excesses and bring a sense of comfort and joy. None of the poems disappoint, some are poignantly about loss, others are reminiscent of times past, a couple of poems focus on nature and there’s even an Australian beach scene.

Intimate Pavements by Bill Adair is a nostalgic look back at a childhood Christmas:

“..This is the house of my granny’s Christmas shortbread.

The walls look the same, but different windows 

Have allowed my memories to scatter.

New family. New recipes..”

I loved Annie Kissack’s lyrical poem Winter Gathering:

“..Here we go gathering sticks and stems

Endless fronds in frozen hands.

Here we go gathering half the lane

On a cold and frosty morning..”

So many lovely poems to enjoy and as added bonus each of the twelve poems in Christmas Walk : Twelve Poems for Rosy Cheeks are the recent winners of a Candlestick seasonal competition and whilst each poem is different the theme of Christmas comes across loud and clear. The poetry pamphlet would be perfect as a Christmas stocking filler for anyone who appreciates a diverse collection of poems or instead of a card  and something different to send in the run up to Christmas.

A shout out to the talented cover designer for a beautifully festive cover, its cheery robin and pastoral country scene are perfect for the festive season and compliment the poems perfectly.

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.

X @poetrycandle

Website

🎄🎅 Instead of a Christmas Card ~ Two gorgeous festive titles from Candlestick Press🎄🎅

 

It's my favourite time of year when Candlestick press release their festive titles in time for Christmas

Candlestick Press
November 2020

By Bus to Christmas: poems by Tony Curtis.

In a year when nothing is as it should be, much-loved traditions such as those associated with Christmas seem more important than ever. Every year Candlestick Press publishes two mini-anthologies on a festive theme. This year’s titles are as beautiful as ever, but focus even more keenly on the idea of poetry as a precious gift to be shared with loved ones.

In a new departure for Candlestick, By Bus to Christmas is a single-author anthology by the Irish poet Tony Curtis. The poems are written with families (and particularly children) in mind; the title poem is a modern nursery rhyme about a journey to Christmas on a bus with snowballs for wheels and stars for windows. The poems sparkle with dreams, memories and surprises, creating a magical world.

My thoughts...

In this year of uncertainty it's even more important that we hold on to all those precious moments which bring us joy. I read through the poems of By Bus to Christmas with a huge smile on my face. The poet, Tony Curtis, has conjured the perfect Christmas spirit in this mini anthology which fairly sparkles with all the hopes and dreams that this festive season brings, not just of Christmas present, but also the memories of a Christmas long past.

Some brought a smile to my face, like the eponymous By Bus To Christmas

"Last year I went by hippopotamus

It was slow and grey

and kept losing its way

So this year I am going by bus to Christmas"

Whilst others brought  a lump to my throat from the beautiful The Angel's Promise;

" A year in the making,

it began with fireworks

and is ending in candlelight "

And my very favourite is The Hushed House which reminds me of my own house on Christmas morning now that my children are grown and gone to lives of their own making;

" I descend the stairs

light the tree.

and move quietly 

through empty rooms "

By Bus to Christmas makes a perfect alternative to a Christmas card and offers a special glimpse into all the magic of Christmas and in this year of darkness we need that magical feeling more than ever.

🎄🎅 🎄🎅

Candlestick Press
November 2020

Christmas Presents: Ten Poems to Give and Receive

As has become traditional for Candlestick, Christmas Presents: Ten Poems to Give and Receive is a selection of new poems specially commissioned from leading contemporary poets. This year’s poets range from John McCullough to Pey Oh and from Andre Bagoo to Suzannah V Evans. There are poems about a baby shower for the new-born Christ-child, an ailing family cat who recovers just in time to run rings around the Christmas tree and memories of Christmas in the Caribbean.

My Thoughts...

I eagerly anticipate the latest Christmas poetry collection from Candlestick popping through my letterbox. It reminds me, in November, that the festive season is really on its way and this current collection in Christmas Presents is every bit as good as I knew it would be. Ten clever poets have brought that special Christmas feeling right into my life again and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading each of the poems.

There is something for everyone in this collection from the clever How to Grow your own Mistletoe by Helen Ivory and the warning that "Mistletoe needs patience " -  a trait which is, I think, something we've all gained more of this year!

To the poignant poem,  For you, in the Winter Dark by Kelly Swain, which is so beautifully written that it brought a tear to my eye " I wish I could give you this gift of space..."

And the very special This Year by Ben Wilkinson, which starts the collection and conjures this year like no other;

" a reminder that what's done is done,

and of dark-bright moments still to come..."

Entertaining, poignant and a perfect alternative to a festive greeting card, Christmas Presents: Ten Poems to Give and Receive is a wonderful collection of verse which is perfect for the festive season.

Both titles have an irresistible cover created by a contemporary UK artist. Sarah Young’s bewitching winter tree is a red and gold delight while Celia Hart’s jolly Christmas bus captures the heart-warming spirit of the anthology. And then there’s Frida Kahlo on the back cover..

Candlestick Press is an independent publisher based in Nottingham, UK. We’ve been publishing poetry pamphlets since 2008 not only for people who already love poetry, but also for those who will love it but perhaps don’t know that yet. Our ‘instead of a card’ pamphlets make an ideal alternative to a mainstream greetings card and are a small gift in their own right. They have matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message, and are excellent companions on journeys or for a bedtime read. By supporting us, you help an independent press and our supported charities at the same time as treating yourselves, your friends and family to some wonderful poems.

Twitter @poetrycandle

Website

Two New Christmas Titles From Candlestick Press..

❆❆ Ten Poems about Snow ❆❆

Candlestick Press
November 2019

Cover:Sam Cannon

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of these beautiful pamphlets 

The appeal of snow must have something to do with childhood – the excitement of waking up to a white world and placing our wellies into cold crunchiness. As adults we still feel the magic of snow’s hushed calm, which for a few days can slow down our hectic lives.

Ten Poems about Snow edited by Carole Bromley takes us on an enchanted journey through worlds of snow until we arrive, of course, in Robert Frost’s mysterious snowy woods. You’ll also find beautiful poems published here for the first time – winners and runners-up in our snow poem competition. These are poems that capture all the magic and emotion of a snowfall in deepest winter.

For every Snow pamphlet sold, Candlestick will be making a donation to the charity Shelter.

My thoughts..

I can remember as a child spending lots of happy hours outside and have so many memories of playing with feather-light powder puff snow and of walking along crackly footpaths with their cobweb lines of ice and frost. The excitement of waking to the hushed quiet of a snowy morning and the tingly pain of icy fingers from making snowmen, and the sheer joy of throwing crunchy snowballs and watching them explode into a million pieces.

In this poignantly reflective collection of ten poems we are reminded of the sheer beauty of snow and of our relationship with it. 

From the disappointment of a child being picked to play a snowflake in the nativity rather than the Virgin Mary, The Star of Bethlehem by Jill Munro is a lovely reminder of being the best we can be regardless of our role, and sometimes it is simply enough to be one of the 'fake flakes' forming 'a snow blanket on the scene'.

The Symmetry of Snow by Meda AA Stamper is a wonderful reminder of the absolute grace of snow and of the power of its transformation to make everything seem better but that we must never to forget what's underneath the snowy facade.

'But grace shows its heart like snow and changes everything

Everything even what we've made all wrong and ugly

Everything is all the same in beauty after snow..' 

It's always difficult to pick out a favourite poem as all ten are very special and conjure the beauty of a snowy landscape but I think the one that struck a chord with me was the simple beauty of  When it Snowed by Kerry Derbyshire which brought a tear to  my eye..

 ' like prayers, how snow stitches

and mends all that is broken...'

And of course no festive collection is complete without the stunning beauty of Robert Frost's Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Night 

'He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow...'

It's one of my favourites and is  a delightful way to complete the collection.

 ❆❆ Christmas Spirit ❆❆

Candlestick Press
November 2019

Cover: Louise Slater

These ten specially commissioned poems celebrate the joy of Christmas in all its variety. Some evoke the bustle of untangling fairy lights, of shopping and cooking and opening presents, while others celebrate our more ancient seasonal traditions, such as collecting holly and ivy to bring into the house. And then, of course, there’s the mistletoe.

The poems remind us that amid the inevitable hurly burly there’s always time to pause and savour quiet moments. This joyful and heart-warming selection is guaranteed to add a sprinkle of beauty and delight to every Christmas.

My thoughts..

Christmas Spirit to Warm the Heart describes this collection of poetry to perfection as there is such festive warmth within each of the poems giving us a glimpse into a very special Christmas world.

Quietly introspective, each of the poems have the ability to take you into a world of festive treats seeing Christmas 'through other people's windows' which is a poignant reminder of what the spirit of Christmas means to every one of us.

I loved the opening poem 'The Golden Bough by Rosie Jackson with its theme of mistletoe and which is a complete story in itself, perfectly proportioned, and suffused with mysticism and legend ' until her tears formed into pearls, lucent emblems of her unstoppable love'..

Christmas traditions are explored in This year like last year by Jo Brandon which reminded me of  the joy of keeping family traditions alive in the memory,

 ' I like that Christmas is always the same, someone 
on the telly said,'the best days are alwyas short'-
it could have been the vicar of Dibley,
or the Queen '...

I loved the vernacular of Mizzletow by Katrina Porteous which conjured a bleak and beautiful landscape, and that thin cold mizzly rain which is so much part of my northern climate,

'And a burning cold dragged in from the dark- the Mizzletow-
Strange , aromatic, A tang of field edges-. Mizzle, a thin rain-
Not the pearly southern berries but hoops of bitter willow..'

These two pamphlets are both wonderful collections of Christmas poetry which are just perfect for the festive season and are a great alternative to the standard Christmas card.

About the Publishers

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 Cricket, London, Puddings, Birds, Kindness, Home and Fathers. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Christmas Poetry from Candlestick Press

I always look forward to the Candlestick Press Christmas Poetry Pamphlets 

and this year sees two absolutely stunning collections 

Ten Poems about Robins

What is it about robins that makes them so easy to love? Is it the jaunty red breast? Or the fact that they have been known to build their nests in kettles, boots, coat pockets and even under car bonnets – places that seem to suggest a wish to be close to our human world? Perhaps it’s because they appear to want to keep us company by perching close by while we’re gardening or flitting alongside us when we’re out on a walk.

The special postcard features the poem ‘Brou-Rhuddyn’ by Pippa Little, winner of our postcard poem competition.

Selected and Introduced by Hamish Whyte

Cover illustration by Sam Cannon.

My thoughts:

There is so much to love about this collection of jaunty poems about robins and, let's face it, robins are so perfectly reminiscent of the winter months that no image of Christmas is complete without one perched upon the branches of a tree in the garden. The ten poems contained within this collection bring this cheery little bird to glorious life :

from The Key-Note by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

"Yet robin sings thro' Winter's rest,

when bushes put their berries on;

While they their ruddy jewels don,.."

to After Christmas by Peter Walton

"Today in woods in Kentish countryside

we saw them in their scores ignite inside

Each thicket's heart a ticking pulse of red - .."

There is something both old and new in this pamphlet to help celebrate the splendour of our much loved, Robin Redbreast.

Christmas Lights

The switching on of festive lights in towns and villages across the land announces the fact that Christmas is fast approaching. It also marks the start of real winter.

This delightful selection contains ten brand new poems by leading contemporary poets and comes with a limited edition poem postcard. We find light in all its many shapes and forms – from the ‘glittering heart’ of Paris in December to the glint of a skater’s boot on a frozen lake or the sugary shine of a child’s candy cane. And worlds away from the hubbub and dazzle, there’s the silent watcher at the window who:

The special postcard features the poem ‘This little town’ by Rob Miles, winner of our postcard poem competition.

Cover illustration by Sarah Young.

My Thoughts:

The twinkly lights that brighten our cities, towns and villages make the magic of Christmas come alive and these ten poems about dark winter nights take us on a sparkly journey which reminds us about the beauty that can be found in quite ordinary things, especially when they are lit up with magical Christmas lights.

From Christmas Lights by Stephen Keeler

"Now the village is

en fête: dressed for a party in the dark

across filed , along uneven paths.."

To the beautiful Northern Lights by Nancy Campbell

"..In winter she wakes

at midnight to an intense silence

as if the town is stalking itself,

and she knows the skies will be bright as butter"

This collection of wintery poems about the beauty of dark skies is alight with the promise of time made golden with the hope of perfect light.

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously-produced poetry pamphlets, as well as short prose fiction and non-fiction. The pamphlets make a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Twitter @poetrycandle

Christmas Sunday WW1 Remembered...

A Christmas Prayer

(From the Trenches)

by 

Cyril Winterbotham

1887- 1916

Not yet for us may Christmas bring

Good-will to men, and peace;

In our dark sky no angels sing,

Not yet the great release

For men, when war shall cease.

So must the guns our carols make,

Our gifts must bullets be,

For us no Christmas bells shall wake;

These ruined homes shall see

No Christmas revelry.

In hardened hearts we fain would greet

The Babe at Christmas born,

But lo, He comes with pierced feet,

Wearing a crown of thorn,-

His side a spear has torn.

For tired eyes are all too dim,

Our hearts too full of pain,

Our ears too deaf to hear the hymn

Which angels sing in vain,

"The Christ is born again."

O Jesus, pitiful, draw near,

That even we may see

The Little Child who knew not fear;

Thus would we picture Thee

Unmarred by agony.

O'er death and pain triumphant yet

Bid Thou Thy harpers play,

That we may hear them, and forget

Sorrow and all dismay,

And welcome Thee to stay

With us on Christmas Day.

Cyril Winterbotham was a Lieutenant in the 1/5th Battalion Gloucester Regiment.

He was killed in  August 1916 and is listed on the Thiepval memorial.

Jaffareadstoo wishes you a peaceful and loving Christmas

Sunday WW1 Remembered...

The Fallen

by

Diana Gurney

Shall we not lay our holly wreath

Here at the foot of this high cross?

We do not know, perhaps a breath

Of our remembering may come

To them at last where they are sleeping,

They are quiet, they are dumb,

No more of mirth, no more of weeping,

Silent Christmas they are keeping;

Ours the sorrow, ours the loss.




There are few references about Diana Gurney other than she is recognised as one of the 
WW1 War Poets.

Her book of poems The Poppied Dream was published in 1921

Candlestick Press ~ A Feast of Poetry for Christmas and the New Year

Two anthologies of brand new poems by leading contemporary poets mark an exciting first for Candlestick Press and sit at the heart of its Christmas offering of six festive titles of both poetry and prose.

 

All published by Candlestick Press

October 2017, priced £4.95

My thanks to the publishers for my copies of these poetry pamphlets 

Christmas Garland and Christmas Crackers contain poems commissioned from major poets including this year’s TS Eliot Prize winner Jacob Polley, New Generation Poets Tara Bergin and Helen Mort, Oxford Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage, former Ireland Professor of Poetry Paula Meehan and Queen’s Gold Medal winner John Agard. Each poet has responded with characteristic verve and originality to Candlestick’s invitation to write a poem in celebration of a particular aspect of Christmas.

Candlestick’s poetry title for children is Christmas Stocking edited by poet and grandfather George Szirtes. The title is enchantingly illustrated throughout by David&Rews and features five magical poems; there’s one about the traditional pantomime trip and another about a first uncertain meeting with Santa – plus a beautiful new poem by George himself.

Purchase of Christmas Stocking ensures a donation to UNICEF

Fourteen Festive Sonnets, edited by poet James Nash completes Candlestick’s Christmas Collection. This sumptuous selection of sonnets old and new offers a kaleidoscope of reflections on the festive season. The poems invite us to reflect on the chilly beauty of winter and the lovely blaze of Christmas at its heart.

Purchase of Fourteen Festive Sonnets ensures a donation to Samaritans

My thoughts...

It's no secret of my love for these sumptuous editions published by Candlestick press and this Christmas collection is particularly lovely with some wonderful poems by poets old and new. In each of the pamphlets there is something rather special. Poems to make to you smile and remember Christmas past, poems which make you look forward to Christmas present, and always with a hint of memory and a sense of surprise.

The pamphlets are always beautifully presented and printed with wonderful covers and include a perfectly appropriate book mark. They make perfect little gifts to tuck into a Christmas stocking or to send to a friend instead of a card.

About the Publishers

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 Cricket, London, Puddings, Birds, Kindness, Home, Grandparents, Mothers and Fathers. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Find out more by visiting their website 

Follow on Twitter @PoetryCandle

~****~