~
O holy grail, thy will a steady gail
faithful attempts to pursue the Christmas dream
buy the perfect gift via the internet and mail
caught up in a tedious consumer regime
on credit, on lay away, more debt we grow
for shopping is the holy grail we know
~
fall on your knees before the corporate pleas
o holy grail, o holy grail
for thee, we must prevail
~
This is my entry for Chelsea’s Terrible Poetry Contest based on the song O Holy Night. If you’re inclined to read more poems or create one of your own, please visit her blog for more details at The Terrible Poetry Contest, Reunion of 2020.
Thanks for reading my cynical musings on our cultural obsession with shopping, gift buying, and material success. I actually enjoy giving and receiving presents, but believe we are out of balance in our priorities. My vision is for us to spend more time with friends and family bonding over food, love, conversation, and shared experiences, and less focus on gifts.
May your holidays be filled with loving connections.
Merry Christmas!
writing to freedom 
Very cleverly done Brad and lots of truth in your words. Like you I also enjoy giving and receiving but Iām happy this year to be far away and therefore stepping out of the commercialism. Balance is key! š
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Agreed Miriam. I’m glad you’re having a peaceful holiday away from the fray. To a happy and peaceful holiday season. š
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I started singing this with my family around and I got some really strange looks.
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How fun! Thanks for the laugh Art.
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You are so right! I had the distinct feeling last night, whilst wrapping the presents for my children, that we’ve all been suckered into purchasing more than we need or want to every year. Clever poem! Thank you so much for sharing it.
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You’re most welcome Chelsea. I had fun playing along and venting my cynicism. To a love filled holiday season…
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HI Brad,
Fun and true! I wish Christmas was much less commercial than it is. I don’t enjoy anything about it.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas. Blessings! ā„ā„
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I wish it too Ana and do my part by focusing on friends and experiences rather than gifts. I hope you have a love filled holiday. Hugs! š
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Thank you Brad! It was š ā„ā„
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I share the same views with you, Brad. Material things are not everything in life instead to be with family and friends with love and happiness is what counts. A lovely and apt poem. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
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Thank you Kamal. May you have a love filled holiday season. blessings to you and yours. š
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You are always welcome dear Brad. Blessings to you too. Merry Christmas šššš
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Well crafted and true. While I love gifting things from the heart that have meaning too, I agree that the world has strayed from the true meaning of giving and receiving, which can be year round and in more ways than a material item.
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Thanks Tania. I totally agree. Gifting spontaneously from the heart is a beautiful process. Much love to you, Dave, and Astrid.
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Isn’t that the truth Brad! I long for the return of the true meaning of Christmas and the gratitude we feel. Those days seem lost š¦ But not completely for we can make them our reality if we choose. Wishing you a warm and meaningful Christmas and hopefully a better new year/new paradigm ahead!!!! Blessings to you…VK
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Thank you VK. And yes, change will only happen when enough of us choose love and simpler ways. Hugs and blessings. š
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Well done !!!! And so true
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Great sentiments Brad!
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Thanks Andrea. I was concerned it is too dark as a Christmas post. Happy Holidays!
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Well for starters your poem is far from terrible Brad.
Your poem holds truth and wisdom.
When we each come to realise its our unnecessary consumerism on buying trivia . Things we don’t really need, especially the plastic then we each go along ways then in Contributing to helping heal our earth of her pollutants..
Enjoyed your poem and like Miriam in her comment.. it just needs for us to find that balance in all things..
Have a great day Brad. š š
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I’m glad you can relate Sue. To balance and more loving connections. š
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š
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I agree, Brad! Consumerism shouldn’t be the name of the game at Christmas. I hope you had a blessed one with family . . .
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Thanks Kristine. I’m glad you can relate. I had a quiet solo Christmas which was just perfect after weeks of rushing around delivering packages! To a new year filled with love.
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I actually liked your poem Bradā¦ and agree we have to find a new balance in our beingnessā¤ļø I suppose this was inspired after carrying around a lot of gifts everyone was having delivered by youš šŗš. Sending love your way this holiday season, may 2022 bring you and everyone more balance to enjoy even moreš¶š„
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Thank you. Yes, it was partly inspired by the volume of packages we delivered, and more so by the continued focus on buying presents that I see with family, friends, and online. I hope we find simpler and more balanced lives that support loving experiences.
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Well said. Good one
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You hit the nail on the proverbial head. Many of us, fortunately, are not sucked into the media/advertising/corporate push to ‘buy buy buy’ for Christmas. A better mantra would be “lovebekindlovebekindlovebekind.” Good job!
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Thanks Pam. That is a beautiful mantra for the whole year! š
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Lol. Great parody with a powerful message about consumerism. And I completely agree with your desire for “us to spend more time with friends and family bonding over food, love, conversation, and shared experiences.” I hope that wish comes true for you in 2022, Brad. Happy New Year.
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Thanks Diana. I want to be more intentional in my life for 2022. Happy New Year! š
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Sounds good, Brad. Me too. š
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I agree with you, Brad… spending time with friends and family and sharing experiences is more gratifying than spending time shopping. I hope you had an enjoyable holiday. š
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“I actually enjoy giving and receiving presents, but believe we are out of balance in our priorities. My vision is for us to spend more time with friends and family bonding over food, love, conversation, and shared experiences, and less focus on gifts.” – I so agree with this that you say. I want to feel the sentiment behind the gift and also feel the value in being present with each other with genuine regard. I loved your Terrible Poetry š
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It’s a beautiful goal for the holidays or anytime. To feeling the gifts and presence in life. š
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I think your poem says it all!!
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Thanks Kirt. It was a fun way to rant!
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