November

Poem: November

 

On the first day of November

My true love said to me

Don’t think about next month yet

As it’s way too earrrrly

On the second day of this month

The same was said to me

At some point, I hope you remember, that this is still November

Have you turned the clocks back by an hour?

More time in the bath or that shower?

Extra time in bed is a fallacy.

Besides to think about next month today is still too earrrly.

On the third day of this month

That is NOVEMBER, you know

I can’t take it

“On the verge of getting angrrrry

As it’s way too earrrrrly

 

 

 

Review: November

I like how the poem has started, and I can’t help but feeling like singing along to it with the well-known tune of “The twelve days of Christmas” (ok, maybe that’s a bit too early, but give it a go if you’re in the mood to that is)

Instead of going on about a partridge hanging around in a Peartree and all that, the poet’s ‘true love’ is keen to remind them not to be thinking too far ahead on the first day of November. It’s surely too soon to do that sort of thing right? Besides, the daily ‘to do’s and ‘has been done’ lists from the previous month need to be checked right? Has everything been dealt with, done and dusted? Reflect a bit, but not too much, lest you’ll be stuck there. Make sure stuff is in order before continuing to move forward or with rushing to be starting something new, eh? Just a thought. Rome wasn’t built…in a blink of a tapped icon on a digital screen now, was it?

Most importantly, I would say, don’t allow yourself to be dictated to by ‘the thing’ that has more to gain from this imposed cultural behaviour than you do. December feels like it’s been hijacked. Think about it? Oh, you don’t have the time to think about it do you not? That’s how culture has been ‘designed’ to avoid any thought or the coming together of folk to make any significant changes for living together for the better with a sense of community and belonging. People will always be ‘on the go’ won’t they? Always too busy right? The patterns have been well established.

The same message of staying in the month is brought to the poet’s attention on day two. By whom? It’s not revealed.

I find it humorous that the poet is not impressed at all with ‘gaining’ an extra hour in bed when the clocks go back (another story for another time) I agree with the poet. It is a fallacy.

From how I see it, what is being ‘gained’ is an extra hour of… grumpiness and becoming a curmudgeon!

It gets to day three, and by the looks of it, the poet has not been sucked in and is acutely aware of how they feel about the early Christmas messages. They are beginning to get annoyed.

Let’s ask the question. At the very beginning of the month, any month that is, why mentally put yourself into the following one?  It’s good to be prepared and all that, yes, but at the expense of ignoring the important and delightful stuff that November can bring?  Ok, don’t be telling me that you think it’s wise to buy a pumpkin and practice a ‘trick or treat’ route or two in September, and while you’re at it, pick up a mince pie or three (as they are out there clear to see). Why ignore the month you’re in and give into the hideous omnipresent yucky consumerist messages and items for December, when you’re nowhere near it?. It’s not on is it? Or am I missing something here? Are stacked mince pies or the ‘thought’ of a turkey really that appealing?

Tradition is tradition, right? Doing what everyone else is doing and therefore all are united in the same cultural behaviours? Ho Ho Ho, sleigh bells are ringing, snow is glistening, blah blah blah etc. But hold on! This is the United Kingdom, not Scandinavia! What I am seeing and hearing when I speak to local folk, is that people are tired, stressed and feeling the work, life and family pressures. Talking about that festive ‘C’ word, plus the weather doing all sorts with itself, isn’t known to help much at this time of the year.

But tis’ the season and all that? Actually it isn’t!

As ‘that’ song goes, “I wish it could be Christmas everyday” Well no I don’t not if the lead up to it starts in September. Give me the energy of The Pogues and Kirsty’s Maccoll  with their “scumbag, maggot and cheap lousy faggot…I’ve built my dreams around you… And the bells were ringing out”… Oh how I’m smiling sincerely when I think of her beautiful voice. A great song reflecting hopes, dreams, drama disappointments, atmosphere and love. Hang on, before I get a bit too whimsy, this is, as I write, and as the poet says still ‘November’.

Hold those horses or should I say the nativity donkey’s

Wait to get those ‘festive feels’ in December.

According to the poet, the month of November appears to be overshadowed by the following winter month of December. What I am seeing is that people are still holding on to the summer months with wearing shorts, yes shorts, and sandals with socks! I’ll leave it there as I’m feeling cold on their behalf (they certainly are not!)

Well, I’ve made it to late November and I think I’ll be in the Poet’s good books as I haven’t done anything at all ‘Christmassy’ during the month of November. The poet will be on my Christmas card list.