Haibun, Poem

With Love From Us: A Haibun

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for dVerse Poetics where the theme is
“Despite and Still”. My inspiration is the poem seen below
written by John N. Morris. Here is my haibun.

John N. Morris
Poetry, Feb 1977

Since as long as I can remember, it has been my tradition to write out our Christmas cards the day after Thanksgiving. Social media and TV advertisements were all abuzz over Black Friday; I’ve never gone out shopping the day after Thanksgiving and I never will. Who needs the cold, the crowds and the craziness? I prepare our boxes of cards, the address list, my music playlist, my favorite pen and a pot of coffee. In this fast moving world of instant gratification, it gives me great pleasure to take my time writing a message inside each card. And despite the fact that the price of stamps keeps going up and the number of cards we receive keeps going down, I will still continue my favorite tradition every year. There’s no dollar amount that can be placed on the joy I get from wishing someone a very merry Christmas and sending them our love.

Christmas card hellos
new and old friends remembered
greetings from the heart

NAR©2024

© NAR

This is “Christmas Card” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Poetics: “Despite and Still”

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy ~ The Sicilian Storyteller, Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

45 thoughts on “With Love From Us: A Haibun”

  1. The only problem I have with cards is writing them – once upon a time I had lovely handwriting, now it’s almost illegible! I have to throw away as many as I send, and I bet a lot of recipients wonder who on earth my card is from! But I try!

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  5. This is perfect, Nancy. I cannot tell you just how much it pains me that our stupid postal strike is still on-going (has been for over three weeks). They are now Grinches in my book. I had my photo all picked out and was going to print them out (I make my own) but noooooo.

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      1. You know how people striking will sometimes get honks in support? They are getting NOTHING. Impossible to feel bad for them.
        Just sucks. They are talking about getting rid of Canada Post. Well shit… what else are we supposed to use?

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  6. A wonderful haibun, Nancy, of a Christmas tradition that so many have let go, not least of all me! I enjoyed it so much, especially the little details like the favorite pen and the music playlist. Ya gotta set the mood just right, ya know! Reading it, I felt a bit guilty and nostalgic, because as late as last year I would do the same, exactly as you describe it. And you describe it so well. Emails or phone calls have taken its place. Wishing you and yours a verry Merry Christmas and all the blessings of the season!! 🤗🎄🎄❤️

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  7. I have a similar ritual, only it’s never on the same day. Time does get away from us at this time of year! Still waiting on my Christmas cards, and once in a blue moon they end up being New Year’s cards!
    I’m also with you on Black Friday, a dastardly commercial tradition. I don’t go out of the house, I don’t purchase anything on-line on cyber Monday, and I give absolutely nothing on giving Tuesday, our gifts are always distributed by then. It all feels so forced and lacks any kind of real meaning.

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      1. We just got our tree, although we won’t put it up until next week. I don’t like the tree up for a month. We were going to get it yesterday when it was 42 degrees out but pouring rain. We waited until today and it was 28 degrees, windy, and I made a very quick decision! Pouring rain would have been better.

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  8. I know this joy of writing Christmas cards. What fond memories I have. But I usually start on November 01st—my cards usually had oceans to cross. During the pandemic I stopped. Post offices were eternally closed even after airplanes resumed. What a sad shame.
    The pandemic discombobulated 😕 me big time. I haven’t been the same since. 😭

    And now I receive three cards at the most. I still send a dozen. What a fantastic tradition. Hugs. Happy Merry Everything.

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    1. You might want to show the pandemic who’s boss by sending out a few cards again and in the process start letting that joy back into your life.

      I do love the tradition and the act of spreading Christmas cheer. My list has grown this year and I’ve happily received a few cards already, some from people I’ve missed over the years.

      Hugs to you, Selma, and a Happy Merry Everything as well. 💛🎄💛

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  9. what a beautiful tradition.. we have it too though we do it 1st December and as you say it a peaceful and happy Start to the what is now a commercial Christmas.

    This is especially for you and Bill and all the family.

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