Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Two Poems and a Quote About Oranges: Merry Christmas

I'm grateful for oranges today. I'm grateful for you.




The Orange
by Wendy Cope 

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange 
The size of it made us all laugh. 
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave— 
They got quarters and I had a half. 

And that orange it made me so happy, 
As ordinary things often do 
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park 
This is peace and contentment. It's new. 

The rest of the day was quite easy. 
I did all my jobs on my list 
And enjoyed them and had some time over. 
I love you. I'm glad I exist.





Oranges by Gary Soto

The first time I walked
With a girl, I was twelve,
Cold, and weighted down
With two oranges in my jacket.
December. Frost cracking
Beneath my steps, my breath
Before me, then gone,
As I walked toward
Her house, the one whose
Porch light burned yellow
Night and day, in any weather.
A dog barked at me, until
She came out pulling
At her gloves, face bright
With rouge. I smiled,
Touched her shoulder, and led
Her down the street, across
A used car lot and a line
Of newly planted trees,
Until we were breathing
Before a drugstore. We
Entered, the tiny bell
Bringing a saleslady
Down a narrow aisle of goods.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
And asked what she wanted -
Light in her eyes, a smile
Starting at the corners
Of her mouth. I fingered
A nickel in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickel from
My pocket, then an orange,
And set them quietly on
The counter. When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.

Outside,
A few cars hissing past,
Fog hanging like old
Coats between the trees.
I took my girl’s hand
In mine for two blocks,
Then released it to let
Her unwrap the chocolate.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.





“Each time you look at a tangerine, you can see deeply into it. You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine. When you peel it and smell it, it’s wonderful. You can take your time eating a tangerine and be very happy."                                    ― Thich Nhat HanhPeace Is Every Step



What are you grateful for today?

Merry Christmas!

15 comments:

  1. Grateful to be alive, for my friends and family, and yes I love oranges!

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  2. Grateful for my family and friends. :)
    Lovely read. Happy WW!

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  3. Family and friends. Happy holidays.

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  4. Grateful for good health, family and friends- the orange is so simple yet so wonderful

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  5. When I think that I got an orange for Christmas when I was a child ! It was something very expensive and special in Germany in the 50th !

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  6. Deb,

    Ahhh, lovely post! The simple things to delight ones soul and senses. What am I grateful for this day...EVERYTHING from the moment I got up til now. Isn't life grand? Even when you think you can't stand? God is there to lift your body, your mind, and your spirit through the help of our friends. Thanks for sharing and for visiting but mostly thank you for being a friend. Merry Christmas and may God bless you with good health and lots of happiness in the new year!

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  7. Hi Deb,
    I like oranges as well and I love the smell and taste of them.
    Best, Synnöve

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  8. This is such a lovely post, Deb. I think I'll have an orange with my breakfast.:)

    I am most thankful for my health and that of my family. I am also thankful to be living in such a beautiful area of this country and that I DON'T have to travel anywhere for the holidays. I am where I am meant to be and where I want to be.

    Merry Christmas to you, my friend!

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  9. It's satsuma season here in CA and I am soooooo happy!

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  10. Lovely oranges photos/lovely poems. You guys are so creative!

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  11. I'm grateful for friends like you who send beauty like these two poems to my inbox. Thank you!

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  12. Loved the poems. Every year we place oranges (or satsumas) in the bottom of everyone's Christmas stocking as a reminder of simpler days and our connections to our past. My mother would tell us when she was a little girl, growing up during the depression, that everyone would get an orange and some small gift for Christmas, and oh, how she loved the orange.

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