written and posted by members of Lancashire Dead Good Poets' Society

Monday 12 December 2011

I believe.

06:00:00 Posted by Shaun , , , , , 5 comments
Are you ever tempted just to believe in something, go along with it and see where the moment takes you. I am. I was almost stopped dead in the shop the other day after a mother revealed what she called 'the truth about Christmas' to her son. Well, actually, she told her version of the truth, probably told to her by an ill spirited relative on her eighth birthday. The still devastated child didn't seem to appreciate the re-telling of this "I told him", moment and they both left- one delighting in the new found Scrooge appeal (that parents buy gifts and money doesn't grow on trees), the other a little teary.

My Nana, as she always does, pitched right in with a "What do you mean?". Complete with her strong Yorkshire spirit (with which she knocked on my girlfriend's Dad's door yesterday and asked to use the car park- they've never even met before- I wasn't in) and determined to sprinkle festive fairy dust she appeased the lad somewhat. Over egged the pudding on the Santa front a little maybe. I can't help wondering if, either way, the kid will ever be the same again.

When thinking about the theme for this week I completely ignored the 'On this Day' fact. The Order of the Dragon was conjoured up by the seemingly blood thirsty King of Hungary. From a quick Wiki check he seemed a bit of a dragon himself- the kind of endeering rogue that for all his faults, got a fair bit done. But, as I said, I've ignored that titbit from 1408 and think really, as it is becoming increasingly festive around here, it is time to start thinking Santa. Well, believing in things at least.

We've had some new bookshelves in the flat and as such, I can now see a load of books. Flicking through this collection I came across the eponymous poem Dragons. Matthew Francis takes his reader on a journey through the imagination of his narrator in this poem. He dissects each dragony detail and builds a great picture, if nothing else, of childhood and belief. The poem goes much further and deeper than that, as you may expect from an opening poem but I'll leave you to discover that on your own. It comes recommended.

Believing though, is a very big thing at this time of the year. Imaginations are captured and in many ways it is the only time of the year when you can reasonably be as excited as a child. We suspend normality, find our television sets peppered by wand waving schoolkids, longboats and mythical creatures- legends retold and retold and retold. We lap it up. We will all eagerly await the showing of Miracle on 34th Street and all tire of it by the New Year but, as with all popular Christmas stories, you just have to go with the flow sometimes.

I like the thought that something magical could happen. I like the idea that someone could do something for someone else just once and, on top of that, I quite like all the smiling that goes on. Of course, there are those that don't believe in Christmas, there are those that get swept under by the throbbing high street and there are those that just can't cope. But, with so many things coming to mind just by thinking about Dragons, it really is the season to believe- at least in your own ideas. There is plenty of inspiration about- I suggest we all make a little time in our lives to get some thoughts on paper.

Keep on writing, S

5 comments:

Lindsay said...

:O That poor kid. The transition between believing or not believing in Santa should be a joint one, the child pretending that they still believe to keep their parents happy even though they and their mates have noted and discussed their parent's christmas errors. The parents of course just wait for the kid to ask, which they sometimes never do. My 9 year old asked me outright recently and I denied it unconvincingly. What a bitter old boot.

Great post Shaun.

Standard said...

It was a very serious moment when my mum told me Santa didn't exist. I listened very carefully and seriously and took it all in. I then responded with, 'that's ok mum, but Superman's still real isn't he?' 'Yes Steve, Superman's still real' 'That's ok then' and I went off, happy as Larry. Lesson is: Sugar the pill! I also think Shaun's Nan should come to the poets!

Damp incendiary device said...

Nanfest!

I like the sentiments Shaun. It doesn't matter what we believe in but the spirit of abandoning our adult 'knowledge' in favour of fantasies and fairy tales for a period of festivity is so alluring :)

I was going to suggest a new addition: the Yuletide Boggart but on second thoughts... ;)

Lara Clayton said...

Ste, have I done something to upset you? Why would you make such suggestions? I think one Nan is more than enough to have to cope with in a single evening... :)

And Vicky, I think Ash is still having nightmares about boggarts :)

Ashley Lister said...

Shaun,

I love that no blog subject seems to phase you. I don't know who put DRAGONS as a topic but it would have thrown me.

And here you go making the subject relevant and interesting.

Great start to the week.

Ash (who has experienced more boggarts than it's safe for one person to experience)