My Tower is a collection of some of the poetry that came to me over a period of years, as I found them, jotted down on backs of envelopes, pages of textbooks, and other unexpected places. Many of them were written during the years that "Greystone Castle's" was our home. May you find solace in the universal experience of all, and may you find them a blessing to you, as they have been to me.

From My Tower

Featuring Christmas at GreystoneBy Margaret Sells Emanuelson

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Margaret Sells Emanuelson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-3206-4

Contents

Christmas at Greystone............................27The Invitation....................................43To Catch a Moonbeam...............................49The Dreamer.......................................53Eclipse...........................................56A Dove to a Tower Room............................59A Life-Time Of Reflection.........................64A Thorn for the Rose..............................69Into His Gates....................................72Essence...........................................74Once I Was Blind..................................75The Legend Of Glendare Castle.....................76Incense...........................................84As One............................................85The Dreamer.......................................87Behold My Heart...................................90Once We Were Young................................92Repentance........................................99The Prophet.......................................103One With The Wind.................................106Loneliness........................................108The Gardener......................................111Solitaire.........................................115My America........................................119The Towers........................................120The Great Generation..............................124Monticello........................................129Wake up America!..................................131II Family Portraits...............................139A Boggie..........................................140To Be A Man – To Beau.......................143To Laura..........................................148To Roma...........................................150To Belford........................................152To Jeff...........................................154To Special Friends................................157Intelligens.......................................158A Hyacinth For Angie..............................159The Cookie Monster................................161Ode To Anthony....................................163Ode To The Dabney.................................165To Joey...........................................167My Angel..........................................168Thank You.........................................171About the Author..................................175

Chapter One

Christmas at
Greystone


FROM MY TOWER ROOM I SEE
HOLLY BERRIES ON THE TREE
NESTLED IN MY
GARDEN WALL,
HANGING LIKE A
CRIMSONED BANNER,
IN A MOST INTRIGUING
MANNER,
GREEN, MAJESTIC,
STRONG AND TALL,
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.
SNOWFLAKES PATTER,
ONCE AGAIN,
SPLATTERING MY
WINDOWPANE,
PATTERNED PRISMS,
FRACTURED LIGHT,
ENTERTAIN MY
WONDEROUS SIGHT;
LITTLE DROPLETS
OF PERFECTION,
RAINBOWED COLORS
OF REFLECTION
TELL OF WINTER'S
PURE DELIGHT.

FIRELIGHT GLOWS FROM
YULETIDE EMBER
FROM EACH CRACKLING,
BURNING TIMBER,
WELCOMING THE
COLD DECEMBER,
WEAVING MEMORIES
TO REMEMBER;
YARNS, LONG WOVEN,
STORIES TALL,
FEATS OF HEROES'
RISE AND FALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

FROM OUR KITCHEN,
OLD AND RARE,
SWEET AROMAS FILL THE AIR,
SIGNALING THE
GOODIES THERE.
JOYFUL GIGGLES
EVERYWHERE,
SNEAK WE COOKIES
WITH A FLAIR.

SINGING CHILDREN,
LARGE AND SMALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

NOW WE GATHER
ROUND THE TREE,
HANGING ORNAMENTS
WITH GLEE.
MANTELS, DRAPED
WITH GREENERY,
STOCKINGS HUNG
FOR ALL TO SEE.
CANDLES LIT UPON
THE TABLE,
WEAVE AN UNEXPECTED
FABLE.
DELICACIES BY THE SCORE,
GOURMETS BECKONING
FOR MORE.

NOW WE SING A
CHRISTMAS CAROL,
AS WE "DON OUR
GAY APPAREL,"
GOWNS OF SPLENDOR
TO ADMIRE;
GENTLEMEN IN FINE ATTIRE.
RIBBONED DRESSES,
FLOWING TRESSES,
SKIP THE CHILDREN
DOWN THE HALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

PREPARATIONS
NEARING CLOSURE,
PROMPT A SCURRY
AT EXPOSURE,
AS THE CLOCK BEGINS
TO CHIME,
SIGNALING ARRIVAL TIME
FOR OUR FESTIVE,
FESTOONED BALL;
HURRIED DOINGS,
TASKS ENSUING.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

NOW THE HORSES'
HOOVES DO PATTER,
WITH A FASCINATING
CLATTER;
SLEIGH BELLS RINGING,
CAROLERS SINGING,
DOWN THE LONG
INTRIGUING MALL;
SOARING SPIRITS,
LAUGHING CHATTER,
SIGHTS OF WONDER
THAT ENTHRALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

AS WE GATHER AT THE DOOR
COMES EXCITEMENT,
EVEN MORE.
SPARKLING CRYSTALS
LIGHT THE HALL;
CHERISHED FRIENDS
NOW COME TO CALL;
HUGS OF WELCOME,
JOYFUL GREETING,
LONG ANTICIPATED MEETING.

RUSTLING SOUNDS OF
SWISHING TAFFETA
MINGLE WITH THE
CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER,
PEALS OF JOY FROM
EVERY RAFTER;
GENTLEMEN, BOTH
SHORT AND TALL,
GATHER ROUND TO
START THE BALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.

NOW THE MUSIC
FILLS THE AIR,
WHIRLING DANCERS,
SKIRTS AFLARE,
CHILDREN, WATCHING
FROM THE STAIR,
TREASURED HOURS SLIP AWAY
AS WE DANCE
ALMOST TIL DAY.
GROUPS OF FRIENDS
AROUND THE HALL
SIP AND CHAT ABOUT
THE BALL.
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AFTER ALL.


II

FROM MY TOWER ROOM, I SEE,
IN MY STORE OF MEMORY,
HOLLY BERRIES ON THE TREE
NESTLED IN MY
GARDEN WALL,
HANGING LIKE A
GRACEFUL BANNER
IN THE MOST INTRIGUING
MANNER,
STILL, MAJESTIC,
STRONG AND TALL.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS,
AFTER ALL.

STRAINS OF MUSIC
FROM BELOW
ECHO JOYS OF LONG AGO.
RIBBONED MISSES,
STOLEN KISSES,

UNDERNEATH THE
MISTLETOE.
GUESTS ATTIRED
IN ELEGANCE
ADD ENHANCEMENT
TO THE DANCE.
HAPPY MEMORIES
LIFT THE PALL.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS,
AFTER ALL.

IN MY MIND'S EYE
I REMEMBER
LOVE THAT BLOOMED
IN THAT DECEMBER,
LIGHTED LIKE A
BURNING EMBER;
LOVERS PARTED,
BROKEN HEARTED,

LOVE THAT LASTED
THROUGH THE YEARS;
THROUGH THE JOYS AND
THROUGH THE TEARS.
SWEET ENCOUNTERS,
HANDS THAT HELD,
UNIONS, ONLY GOD
DID WELD.

IN MY DREAMS I
STILL REMEMBER
THAT ENCHANTING
COLD DECEMBER
WHEN WE LIT THE
YULETIDE EMBER
ON THAT DAY SO LONG AGO,
AND THE ONES WHO
MADE IT SO.

NOW THE YEARS
HAVE SPUN AWAY
SINCE THAT LOVELY
CHRISTMAS DAY,
STILL, THE DANCERS
BOW AND SWAY,
AS THEY WHIRL
ALMOST `TIL DAY.
AND THE MUSIC LINGERS ON,
THOUGH OUR FRIENDS
ARE LONG SINCE GONE.
SPARKLING CRYSTALS
LIGHT THE HALL
AS THE DANCERS
START THE BALL.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS,


III

Now I hear the joyous laughter,
ringing out from every rafter
From the ladder, strong and tall,
As my Children
Hang, with glee,

ornaments upon the tree
Standing in the castle's hall,
It is Christmas, after all.

Now my children take our places
And repeat the former graces,
that my family embraces,
From those season's long ago.

Now their children romp and play
Till the night has turned from day;
And the candles light the way.

And my heart is filled with love
As I watch the Holy Dove
Light upon their little heads;
As we...