A Few of My Favorite Things

I want to give a big thanks to the Breathe Writer's Conference for inviting me to share my thoughts on why writers need to include more poetry in our literary diet. You can check out my guest blog this week at http://breatheconference.com/home/featured-articles/tis-the-season-to-read-poetry.html.

Christmas is a great time to fall in love with poetry. Or if you're a poetry lover like me, it's a time to revisit old favorites. Here is a list of 25 of my favorite Christmas poems so far (and in no particular order):

John Donne, “Annunciation” and “Nativitie”

John Milton, “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”

George Herbert, “Christmas”

William Blake, “The Lamb”

Phillips Brooks, “The Voice of the Christ Child”

C. S. Lewis, “The Nativity”

T. S. Eliot, “Journey of the Magi” and “A Song for Simeon”

e.e. cummings, “little tree”

G. K. Chesterton, “A Christmas Carol” and “The Wise Men”

Luci Shaw:

    “Virgin” (in Writing the River)

    “Perfect Christmas Tree” (in Writing the River)

    “The Overshadow” (in Writing the River)

    “Some Christmas Stars” (in Postcard from the Shore)

    “Mary’s Song” (in Listen to the Green)

Madeleine L’Engle:

    “Tree at Christmas”

    “Song of Simeon”

    “Annunciation” & “After Annunciation”

    “Like Every Newborn”
    “The Risk of Birth, Christmas, 1973”

    “First Coming”

    “The Wise Men”

You'll notice my list is heavily weighted toward the Christmas poetry of Luci Shaw & Madeleine L'Engle. That's because (a) they are my poetry heroes, and (b) I believe these two, more than any other poets, understand and are able to convey the redemptive truth of Christmas as well as the poignance of the characters that make up the New Testament narratives. If you want to gorge yourself on nothing but their Christmas poems, I recommend their book WinterSong: Christmas Readings,

http://www.amazon.com/WinterSong-Christmas-Readings-Madeleine-LEngle/dp/1573833320/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418662409&sr=1-1&keywords=luci+shaw+madeleine+l%27engle

Have a blessed Christmas, one and all, filled with the poetic whimsy of this beautiful season!

(Oh, and just in case you need some light-hearted silliness for Boxing Day…read “Santa andthe Reindeer” by Shel Silverstein.)

The Best Rejection Letter. Ever.

While I have submitted my poetry here and there over the years, nothing much ever came of it. Rejection letter after rejection letter. Disappointment. Discouragement. Admittedly, a bit of my inherited Dutch stubbornness to keep trying. 

Last summer I submitted some of my work to the Breathe Writer’s Conference and was awarded a scholarship, which gave my confidence a much-needed boost. After attending the conference in October and being so encouraged by fellow writers to continue submitting my work, I determined not to give up. So the first thing I did when I got home was to start sending in submissions again. I promptly received two more rejection letters. *sigh*

Then a friend messaged me a link to a call for submissions for a new poetry prize. (Thank you, Susie!) I selected my three best poems, composed a smashing cover letter, and sent my entry winging through cyberspace. And in all honesty, work and family life and holiday commitments have kept me so busy since then, I sort of forgot I’d sent it.

Until last evening when I received an email. What I thought was another blanket rejection notice turned out to be an early Christmas present. My heart swelled as I read the editor’s words:

“While you were not chosen our winner, we want you to know your work stood out to us in a positive way. We are unable to write a personal email to all of our submissions (we had over 350), so the fact you are receiving this note is important—we want you to know that we liked your work.”

They liked my work! Then came the best part:

“Your work was good and stood out from over 350 submissions, so please do not see this as a loss; it’s not. Please take this note not as a no, but a not yet….While you were not chosen, we know good things are headed your way with your writing.”

You’re probably thinking, Why is she so excited about a rejection letter? After all, they won’t be awarding me a shiny medal or a cash prize. Nor will they be publishing my work. To which I reply: Not. Yet.

This is the first time I received more than an impersonal form letter from a busy poetry journal editor. This was a personal communication, and it contained words of encouragement that my heart so needed to hear. Perhaps I should frame it, wrap it up in pretty paper with a fancy bow, then unwrap it on Christmas morning as a reminder: You’re a poet, Amy. Keep writing. Keep recording these words, images, prayers, feelings. Do your best work. Good things will come when the time is right.