A Winter’s Tale

by Michael Dylan Welch and Sarah Welch

Winner of first honourable mention in the 2014 rengay contest sponsored by the Haiku Poets of Northern California. First published in Mariposa #33, Autumn/Winter 2015, page 29. Written 27 November 2014 in Redmond, Washington, when Sarah was eight years old. These verses were originally written in the opposite order. See also “An Autumn Tale” and “A Summer’s Tale.”

morning light—

a trace of snow

on the neighbour’s crèche Michael

granddad steals a gumdrop

from the gingerbread house Sarah

crowded mall—

the eyes of carolers

all aglow Michael

mistletoe hung

above the mantel—

empty stocking Sarah

sale flags fluttering

in the tree lot Michael

bronze sunset . . .

the first Christmas lights

turn on Sarah

Commentary by the Rengay Contest Judges

“With lively imagery and pace, this rengay captures the warmth of Christmas, tempered by realism as in ‘sale flags.’” —Beverley George

 “I felt all aglow after reading this fine Christmas rengay. I enjoyed the progression between granddad stealing a gumdrop to the final verse which links sunset with Christmas lights.” —Ron C. Moss