Not 50 but this title might lure the search engines so my blog gets some more hits. Not my intention but the weather this Christmas has been grey and colourless so the title is fits.
Still I went to the beach but, even if the temperature in the water is the same as in the air, +5°C, I didn’t go for a swim. Still a good walk along the sea after all the Christmas food and candy before I start to look like Santa.
Grey is also a colour, ha de Gött!
Merry Christmas to all
the children's glittering eyes,
listening for the jingles,
of the Santa fly-by and hoo-hoo.
the cosy warmth from the,
overheated credit cards in the corner.
Santa is hi-jacked by the soft drink corporations.
Merry Christmas to all
the lonely watching reruns on TV,
homeless hobo looking for shelter in the cold wind,
child hiding under the bed from domestic disturbance.
the empty churches of lost faith,
last minute gift in the cathedral of commerce,
overworked mum falling asleep under the tree.
Merry Christmas to all
the warmth of near and dear,
grand child on the knee of great grand parent,
the facetime conversation and the texts.
generations together, carried by tradition.
blessed together and in warm house.
Remembering that it is all about LOVE.
Svensk version
God Jul till alla
barnens glittrande ögon,
lyssnar efter bjällrorna när tomten,
flyger förbi och ylar hoo-hoo.
den mysiga värmen från,
de överhettade kreditkorten i hörnet.
Tomten blir kapad av de stora läskföretagen.
God Jul till alla
de ensamma som tittar på TV repriser,
hemlös luffare som söker skydd i den kalla vinden,
barn som gömmer sig under sängen, från vuxnas bråk.
de tomma kyrkorna av förlorad tro,
sista minuten present i shoppingens katedral,
överarbetad mamma somnar under granen.
God Jul till alla
värmen från nära och kära,
barnbarn på gammelmormors knä,
facetime samtalet och SMS:en.
generationer tillsammans, buren av tradition.
välsignade tillsammans i ett varmt hus.
Minns att allt handlar om Kärlek.
Christmas spirit is there in your heart, find it, share it. Ha de Gött i Jul!
Yesterday our lips kissed
again and again
today your lips are missed
was it all in vain
my entire inside was full
your strong hand around my neck
drawn together in an enigmatic pull
drawn into you, no holding back
you took my everything
with bubbles and laughter
feeling safe in your arm confident swing
then suddenly I didn't matter
left me for another
your thirst was plenty
set aside without bother
now leaning here feeling empty
Please recycle, ha de Gött!
Winter green oak tree at Lammö, Bohuslän Sweden.
Some say that a tree has feelings and as I hugged this old oak I’m sure I felt a connection and a warmth. I hope she’s pleased with her green winter coat.
Hug a tree but look out for the ants, ha de Gött!
English version
when the November rain
chews the light
like a black hole
devours it all
bashes the windshield
like an angry bird
in a Hitchcock movie
remember soft summer wind
gentle over your warm skin
as bright memory
brightens all
down to your bone
like a happy ending
in a Lindgren story
Svensk version
När november regnet
äter upp ljuset
som ett svart hål
slukar allt
piskar mot vindrutan
som en ilsken fågel
i en Hitchcock film
minns sommarens ljumma vind
smekande din varma hud
som ett ljus minne
värmer allt
värmer din märg
som ett lyckligt slut
i en Lindgren saga
Find your inner lighthouse, ha de Gött!
Astrid Lindgren is a Swedish child book author known for books like Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Långstrump. She has been translated to over 107 languages, even Latin. Changes are that you will find her at your library, and it’s worth the effort.
slowly the wind dies down
from frantic roar to silent whisper
as the sea slowly settles
the last waves make a lazy splash
onto the battered shores
a forgive me caress
and the sun slowly fades
behind the dissolving clouds
Anger is okay, but don’t stay that way. Ha de Gött!
Svensk version
långsamt avtar vinden
från frenetiskt vrål till tyst viskning
när havet sakta lägger sig
de sista vågorna gör ett slött plask
mot misshandlade stränder
en förlåt mig smekning
och solen försvinner sakta
bakom upplösande moln
Ilska är okej, men fastna inte i den. Ha de Gött!
Too warm, soaking sweaty sheets
too cold, where is that blanket
the too soft pillow is too hard
why can’t he come, only for a fast drive by
spread that magic powder in my eyes
Mr Sandman, please come on in
place two Sumo wrestlers on my eyelids
let them win this fight
slumber, only to fall over the edge
with a bang you hit the floor
wide awake, for the next hour
trying to untangle yourself
from the bed linen web
giving in, fading into oblivion of sleep
then the alarm goes off, and out the window
Sleep tight if you’re still awake, ha de Gött!
Swedish version
För varma, genomblöta svettiga lakan
för kallt, var är täcket
den för mjuka kudden är för hård
varför kan han inte komma, bara en snabb sväng förbi
sprida det där magiska pulvret i mina ögon
Jon Blund, snälla kom in
placera två sumobrottare på mina ögonlock
låt dem vinna denna kamp
slumrar, bara för att falla över kanten
med en smäll slår du i golvet
klarvaken, nästa timme
försöker du reda ut dig själv
från sängklädernas spindelväv
ger efter, försvinner i sömnens glömska
sedan går larmklockan, och ut genom fönstret
sitting there out of reach
in the grey November shade
overlooking the folly of men
going back and forth
six lanes of shiny tin cans
Sometimes we miss the things we see, ha de Gött!
a man of steel
an iron man
so pumped up
makes rattle and clatter
inside so empty
a tin man
No person should be an empty vessel, smile and say hi. Ha de Gött!
Explorers and travellers seeking new horizons
to boldly go where no man has gone before
just let me take some rest
Away is good but at home is the best, ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 