Poetics– Alice and Advent– they both start with an A
In Australia, far from the known world
Advent was a non-event, rather
The four Sundays before Christmas.
No calendars, no candles, no nothing
Celebration? Observance?
Not in this kids house.
Alice I did read, see, and hear,
Marveled
Laughed
So many characters, personalities, fun.
Both are expressions of hope.
Hope in the goodness of man
The underdog be treated with fairness
Oppression to be suppressed
Stand up for what we believe.
How appropriate we celebrate
Mandela at this Christmas time.
A man of love and compassion
Who so ‘enriched the world’*
The epitome of Christmas.
* http://abstractorganizedchaosliterally.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/madiba-thank-you/
Morpethroad 
Mandela was a wonderful man. It’s sad, we really only now at his passing, realize his great mission.
Thanks Waltermarks, yes it is sad to see such a wonderful man pass from us.
Lovely piece…..
We always had advents sent to our home from my family in Germany. I loved them. Especially the ones that had chocolate. 🙂
Thanks Anja, yum chocolate always is a winner.
LIVING a particular way is more important than CELEBRATING a picture way/ Indeed, Mandela has enriched the world. His presence will be sorely missed.
Thanks Mary, he has left a wonderful legacy of living.
nice…i like how you tied this into mandela…and def this season is well worth celebrating…he will be missed but hopefully his inspiration will echo forward…as with advent…as with alice…
Thanks brian, seemed a logical connection for me and I was wondering how to make a tribute to him. Have a good day, keep up the great work you do.
i think i will make it, only a week out from dverse’s closure…i need it…
Lovely Tribute and Celebration of LIght 🙂
Thanks Morgan, please call again.
This was special, linking the advent though it didn’t sound to happy in your house 😦 – Christmas and what special people have brought to the world – nicely done Michael
It’s not there wasn’t happiness Jenny, more we didn’t place any significance on Advent other than the count down to Christmas. Only in recent times have I learned about its significance. My sheltered up bringing, as i said far from the known world.
He definitely enriched the world. We need more Mandelas. His life worthy of great celebration.
So true Maggie and thanks for reading. please call again.
Mandela lived the Christmas message ! It is appropriate that he spends this Christmas in his rightful place amongst the blessed.
Thanks Cressida you are so right. Thanks for that comment.
Very nice! Great way to connect the spirit of Christmas with a world figure who so exemplified the best of what it stands for! 🙂 🙂
Thanks Helen yes seemed an appropriate thing to do.
nice that you brought mandela in as well…. he was an awesome man… when i heard about his death i actually thought about changing the prompt to mandela but then thought that those who want to write about him will do anyway – and not because of a pormpt but because it’s on their heart… so thank you..
Thank you Claudia, I am pleased that I was able to as I pointed out in my poem I don’t have a great association with Advent and to me Mandela represented so much that Christmas stands for, selfless dedication to his people.
Oh this is a nice connection .. the advent and Christmas into Mandela.. for anyone not celebrating advent it works the same way..
Thanks Bjorn, I could see it as a clear connection…..
Mandela will definitely leave a void. I wonder whether there is still a living leader who can be such a great inspiration to the world. Sadly I am not so sure.
I like how you weaved Advent, Alice and Mandela into one poem.
Thanks Gabriella, we Aussie are clever little fellas you know.
we all agree that the Mandela day be remembered as part of Christmas and advent now…along with Ghandi, MLK, Mother Theresa and a few others, there ought to be a designated day for them during this time..such good examples they of how to live…well written.
Thanks Katy, yes we should honour those people. Thank you for your comment.
What a lovely weaving of Mandela into the themes of Advent, and Alice. it’s funny, it wasn’t until I was thinking about what Alice did in standing up to the Queen of Hearts, that I realised that this fantastic childhood story was about so much more than a dream…
Thanks Freya happy you enjoyed the poem.
Yes! Amazing man! Patience and grace.
I wonder if we will celebrate Chelsea Manning the same way when the world comes to its senses.
Dalai Lama also walks with great patience and kindness.
Best wishes also from SA, AU.
Thank you Lucy, greeting from across the Indian Ocean, yes Mandela was a great man and fittingly honoured as he is at this time.