Seasons
Greetings
[In
Lieu of a Greetings Card*]
Often the truth we sadly miss
As we see only what we know.
Nor each occasion could reveal
The gravity of what we feel,
On things we dare and dare not do.
Yet, though in vain, let me express
One simple thought, one sincere wish:
That may with love and peaceful bliss
Replete you find the Holidays!
And may the seasons thereafter
Be seasoned with mirth and laughter.
The rare occasioned somber sky
May not but serve to amplify
The happiness of days gone by,
And glories of unyielding prime,
And promises of days that lie
Uncharted in the blue abyss
And daunting vagaries of Time!
Often the truth we sadly miss
As we see only what we know.
Nor each occasion could reveal
The gravity of what we feel,
On things we dare and dare not do.
Yet, though in vain, let me express
One simple thought, one sincere wish:
That may with love and peaceful bliss
Replete you find the Holidays!
And may the seasons thereafter
Be seasoned with mirth and laughter.
The rare occasioned somber sky
May not but serve to amplify
The happiness of days gone by,
And glories of unyielding prime,
And promises of days that lie
Uncharted in the blue abyss
And daunting vagaries of Time!
May
each grief find sweet redress;
Alien to fears, much less to tears,
May triumphs and exploits increase
All through the fast succeeding years!
Merry Christmas and the New Year's Best To You!!
Alien to fears, much less to tears,
May triumphs and exploits increase
All through the fast succeeding years!
Merry Christmas and the New Year's Best To You!!
==<+>==
Author Notes
*This is easily my favorite of all the poems I have
written I have recycled it every year since I had it.
© Constancio S Asumen Jr. All rights reserved
- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/11423167-Seasons-Greetings-by-Ace-Lilacs#sthash.jAZHPMwK.dpuf
Our
Joyous Hour*
(1)
Joyful is the occasion
We find near our side of glory
Where regales our attention
Lucent countenance of vision
Bless this home, for whose patron
We gladly croon our dedication
Timeless song of devotion
For all Christmases’ full celebration!
(2)
Happy New Year, brings new joys of living
Deign harmonize with our love for giving
Sing loud praises for boundless,
Timeless dish of happiness!
[Repeat (1)]
Timeless song of devotion
For all Christmases’ full celebration!
[End]
==|==
Joyful is the occasion
We find near our side of glory
Where regales our attention
Lucent countenance of vision
Bless this home, for whose patron
We gladly croon our dedication
Timeless song of devotion
For all Christmases’ full celebration!
(2)
Happy New Year, brings new joys of living
Deign harmonize with our love for giving
Sing loud praises for boundless,
Timeless dish of happiness!
[Repeat (1)]
Timeless song of devotion
For all Christmases’ full celebration!
[End]
==|==
Author Notes
*This is, arguably the most popular of Filipino Christmas Carol melodies. It has lyrics in every major regional dialects in the country. The Bisayan lyrics on which this rendition is based were audio-transcribed from the attached three video clips as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmU4lwzKE2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdgSXAxJi54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyXjjTCJtkI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmU4lwzKE2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdgSXAxJi54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyXjjTCJtkI
© . All rights reserved,
- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/11814834-Our-Joyous-Hour--by-Ace-Lilacs#sthash.hsB5Y4Fh.dpuf
Alas,
It’s Christmas*
[Ang
Pasko Ay Sumapit]
(1)
Alas, Christmas is nearing
Let us sing our song of cheering
With rich melody driving
Votive tune of Divine loving.
(2)
When Christ was born our Savior
Three wise kings paid Him royal homage
Each of them bearing treasure
Unique vestige of each one’s vassalage.
(1)
Alas, Christmas is nearing
Let us sing our song of cheering
With rich melody driving
Votive tune of Divine loving.
(2)
When Christ was born our Savior
Three wise kings paid Him royal homage
Each of them bearing treasure
Unique vestige of each one’s vassalage.
(3)
Let the New Year bring new mode of living
With the whole country helping when giving
Let’s all persevere until we attain
Vaunted bounty, soundly maintain.
(4)
Let us join in joyful singing
While the world listens in silence
The day is fast approaching
When this heaven sent Child Savior reigns
(5)
Let’s all love one another
The Golden Rule practice as gospel
And from this day prepare
That goodwill, beyond Christmas shall still prevail!
[Instrumental (5), Repeat (1) thru (5)]
[End]
==|==
Let the New Year bring new mode of living
With the whole country helping when giving
Let’s all persevere until we attain
Vaunted bounty, soundly maintain.
(4)
Let us join in joyful singing
While the world listens in silence
The day is fast approaching
When this heaven sent Child Savior reigns
(5)
Let’s all love one another
The Golden Rule practice as gospel
And from this day prepare
That goodwill, beyond Christmas shall still prevail!
[Instrumental (5), Repeat (1) thru (5)]
[End]
==|==
Author Notes
*Anglecized
rendition of “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit” based on the Mabuhay Singers’ version of
the Tagalog lyrics posted on the webpage which accompanied this video clip
~> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ6BWKvm8RE; sung in tune with the melody herein.
© Constancio
S Asumen Jr. All rights reserved,
- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/11817880-Alas--It-s-Christmas--by-Ace-Lilacs#sthash.WGt2JFuD.dpuf
Soul
Kerfuffle Carol*
(Coda)
Prime fortune yields Yuletide
Fateful decision season to abide!!!
(1)
Is it just by force of habit
That we become an acolyte
Or by profound deliberation
We claim to own our devotion
Be it rapture or delirium
We secure some equilibrium
Affording solace to the soul
Chore to settle the kerfuffle
(2)
No matter how trite the process
Or how fraught with wit and prowess
We use up much contemplation
To sort and patch our emotion
Faith in doubt, practice as gospel
Validates the power of free will
Whose seeds were planted with the soul
When first sown in life’s crucible.
(3)
The years shall turn in every calendar
Each turn we reckon just how far our star
Has kept its sojourn in locus well known
Else drastic correction we need make now not soon!!!
[Repeat (2), (3) & (coda)]
==|==
Prime fortune yields Yuletide
Fateful decision season to abide!!!
(1)
Is it just by force of habit
That we become an acolyte
Or by profound deliberation
We claim to own our devotion
Be it rapture or delirium
We secure some equilibrium
Affording solace to the soul
Chore to settle the kerfuffle
(2)
No matter how trite the process
Or how fraught with wit and prowess
We use up much contemplation
To sort and patch our emotion
Faith in doubt, practice as gospel
Validates the power of free will
Whose seeds were planted with the soul
When first sown in life’s crucible.
(3)
The years shall turn in every calendar
Each turn we reckon just how far our star
Has kept its sojourn in locus well known
Else drastic correction we need make now not soon!!!
[Repeat (2), (3) & (coda)]
==|==
==<+>==
- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/11819061-Soul-Kerfuffle-Carol--by-Ace-Lilacs#sthash.KEaegwOs.dpuf
Author Notes
*After
translating both Tagalog and Bisaya versions of the Classic Filipino Christmas
Carol, there is only one thing that remains ~> to mint some lyrics in
original English. So here it is. Except for the Coda, sung to the
same melody as contained in the playlist associated with the predecessor
lyrics, “Our Joyous Hour” and “Alas, It’s Christmas.” As for the Coda,
I’ll think of a tune somehow before the year is over. The beauty about a coda is it can be rendered
as a recitative in the tradition of classical Opera. So I don’t really have to invent a tune for
it. But if somebody out there can,
in the spirit of the Season, volunteer a tune for it, I’d be most gratefully
obliged. ~> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdgSXAxJi54&index=4&list=PLjC-YRc2AjQBRxeS-CtLE4pf2FaKmfcjd
© Constancio
S Asumen Jr. All rights reserved,
Having minted three Yuletide-oriented lyrics this year, it behooves to package them together with my good old reliable which first saw the light of day in 1980 or thereabouts. So counting on the tolerance that comes with the spirit of the season, I therefore send the entirety your way. Should you find anything rubbing you the wrong way, pray don't shoot the messenger, me.
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