Christmas Fern
By Maxwell C. Wheat, Jr.
“Come see the Christmas stockings,”
Says Grandmother, taking our hands
Leading us to the stream in our back woods
There on the bank
She shows us fronds of ferns lined with leaflets
Each shape like a fat “L”
“They’ll fit on elves’ feet, Nanny.”
“They’re upside down,” my brother laughs
“The elves’ll fall out.”
“Why, Edmund,” Grandmother chuckles
“don’t you know why elves’ feet
Are pointed and curled?”
Used by permission All rights reserved – Wheat, M.C. Jr. (2000) Following Their Star – Poems of Christmas and Nature. Cow Meadow Promotions
13 Comments
22 December 2007 at 1:49 am
i love ferns. you know they are the old man of the plant kingdom. good picture. ~nita~
22 December 2007 at 7:09 am
This is just delightful. I have always wondered why fairies have up turned toes. Thank you for the big smile Mon@rch.
22 December 2007 at 8:01 am
Oh my I have a Christmas fern and will have to go out and take a closer look at the leaflets. I am so glad to have found your blog Tom. I have learned so much. I can hardly wait till the next Nature Pilgrimage so we can sit and chat in 2008.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
22 December 2007 at 9:11 am
The first poem about Polystichum acrostichoides I have ever heard. Very nice.
22 December 2007 at 10:26 am
Brought a smile to my face. Like Toni said, I learn so much here.
Merry Christmas, Tom!
22 December 2007 at 11:34 am
What a delightful Christmas treat! Thank you, Mon@rch!
22 December 2007 at 12:22 pm
@ nita – thanks, although I think these particular ones fit on elves feet!
@ Toni – Please do and should be a good time! Make sure you contact me before coming to ANP for my banding schedule!
@ Tom – my first one also and just recently Max sent me many other amazing poems to use on this site! He is an amazing way of using his poetry with nature!
@ Mary – That’s what is great about the internet is we are able to connect and share knowledge!
@ Liz – thanks and I felt this was very appropriate for the season!
PS: I am able to get you connected for anyone who would like to purchase Max’s Christmas Poem Book!
22 December 2007 at 1:15 pm
How Neat! I’ve never seen that before and what a wonderful Christmas poem!
22 December 2007 at 3:00 pm
I *love* this poem! Thanks for sharing it with us Tom!
22 December 2007 at 3:24 pm
Thank for the Christmas poem.-Merry Christmas to you and your family!
22 December 2007 at 7:00 pm
@ Chicago – Max is an amazing writer!
@ Pam – Glad you enjoyed this!
@ Larry – thanks and Merry Christmas to you!
22 December 2007 at 10:30 pm
What a neat poem!
23 December 2007 at 7:48 am
Lovely photos of this fern, and such a sweet poem – LOVE it.