Merry Christmas from the Writing Center!

Happy finals, all! The Writing Center has had such a great semester, mostly due to you guys – the awesome students who keep showing up! We are so grateful for this community and how the students of MC consistently show up prepared to work and grow in their writing.

As we all prepare ourselves for a much needed break, we asked some of our tutors for their favorite Christmas poems, rhymes, and songs! Here’s a few of their responses:

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien – Mary Margaret

Cliff House

Top of the World

Near the North Pole

Xmas 1925

My dear boys,

I am dreadfully busy this year — it makes my hand more shaky than ever when I think of it — and not very rich. In fact, awful things have been happening, and some of the presents have got spoilt and I haven’t got the North Polar Bear to help me and I have had to move house just before Christmas, so you can imagine what a state everything is in, and you will see why I have a new address, and why I can only write one letter between you both. It all happened like this: one very windy day last November my hood blew off and went and stuck on the top of the North Pole. I told him not to, but the N.P.Bear climbed up to the thin top to get it down — and he did. The pole broke in the middle and fell on the roof of my house, and the N.P.Bear fell through the hole it made into the dining room with my hood over his nose, and all the snow fell off the roof into the house and melted and put out all the fires and ran down into the cellars where I was collecting this year’s presents, and the N.P.Bear’s leg got broken. He is well again now, but I was so cross with him that he says he won’t try to help me again. I expect his temper is hurt, and will be mended by next Christmas. I send you a picture of the accident, and of my new house on the cliffs above the N.P. (with beautiful cellars in the cliffs). If John can’t read my old shaky writing (1925 years old) he must get his father to. When is Michael going to learn to read, and write his own letters to me? Lots of love to you both and Christopher, whose name is rather like mine.

That’s all. Goodbye.

Father Christmas

“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole – Merrin

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe

Help to make the season bright

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way

He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh

And every mother's child is gonna spy

To see if reindeers really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two

Although it's been said many times, many ways

Merry Christmas to you

And so I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two

Although it's been said many times, many ways

Merry Christmas to you

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – Amy

I really can't stay

Baby, it's cold outside

I've got to go away

Baby, it's cold outside

This evening has been

Hoping that you'd drop in

So, very nice

I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice

My mother will start to worry

Beautiful, what's your hurry?

My father will be pacing the floor

Listen to that fireplace roar

So, really I'd better scurry

Beautiful, please don't hurry

But maybe just a hald a drink more

I'll put some records on while I pour

The neighbors might think

Baby, it's bad out there

Say, what's in this drink?

No cabs to be had out there

I wish I knew how

Your eyes are like starlight now

To break this spell

I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell

I ought to say, "No, no, no sir"

Mind if I move in closer?

At least I'm gonna say that I tried

What's the sense in hurting my pride?

I really can't stay

Baby, don't hold out

Baby, it's cold outside

“In Remembrance” by Claire Horner – Drew

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there., I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there, I did not die.

“See Amid the Winter Snow” – Callie

See amid the winter's snow

Born for us on earth below

See the tender Lamb appears

Promised from eternal years

Hail, thou ever blessed morn

Hail, redemption's happy dawn

Sing through all Jerusalem

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Say, ye holy shepherds, say

What your joyful news today

Wherefore have ye left your sheep

On the lonely mountain steep?

And a few other suggestions:

From Julia:

“A Little Bit of Heaven Everywhere” by Francesca Battistelli

“Life Up Your Eyes” by Danny Gokey

From Cole:

The Skyrim Soundtrack

It’s Christmas Time by Christine Byrd

Manger Throne by Third Day

--

We hope these suggestions make your Christmas a little cozier!

See you soon, Choctaws!

Mary and Amy