Poetry

Christmas Bright

 

As twilight’s velvet blanket creeps across this great South Land,

Touching those who’ve gathered, arm-in-arm and hand-in-hand,

However they’re attired, however they’ve arrived,

They come as one, together, to share this scene contrived.

 

With expectation whetted, at the thought of what might come,

A child is pressing questions to a dad and loving mum,

Quizzing; then again, as-to what the image here will be,

‘When will the many lights be on, on Santa’s Christmas tree?’

 

Tired eyes, once bright and sparkling, now faded by the years,

Reflect in wearied countenance, past hopes and dreams and fears,

For so different now is Christmas, yet so wonderful to view,

It touches every one of us, to depths we never knew.

 

A hush falls o’er those waiting, as night now quick descends,

To paint a ‘drop of neutral tones that round about it wends,

And soon the wait is over; the scene is framed by night,

Burning bright the lights of Christmas, those lights are CHRISTMAS BRIGHT.

 

All gleaming, bright and varied, in vibrant harmony,

On rooftop heights, down garden paths, adorning bush and tree,

The sight is such it imprints on every heart and mind,

The love and generous giving from one, to all mankind.

 

©  John W. Hiscock

​

​

A Family Thing

 

The kids are here most every night

They come on round, eyes shining bright,

Hearts pound fast with purest joy

They scurry round, each girl and boy.

 

Scurry here, scurry there

Scurry every which and where

Seeking Santa and his sleigh

With Rudolph there to lead the way.

 

Though hot and sultry is the night

Snow drifts blanket eaves lit bright,

The twinkling stars, each galaxy

A wonderland for all to see.

 

Scurry here, scurry there

Youngsters scurry where they dare

While magic fills the inky sky,

Thoughts are all of Christmas nigh.

 

A fantasy of light and sound

Does bring goodwill to those around,

Christmas beckons all to come

Every child, Dad and Mum.

 

Scurry here, scurry there

Kiddies scurry there to share,

Their every fantasy and dream

Here bought to life it would seem.

 

Gran and Pops, they’re drawn here too

Three generations come to view,

To share another’s presentation,

Surreal in visual incantation.

 

Scurry here, scurry there

Children scurry there to stare,

Filled with unabated glee

There’s nowhere else they’d rather be.

 

For this is such a family thing

These lights do here, so many bring,

Drawn Lovingly to family fold

Precious memories held by young and old.

 

Scurry here, scurry there

Scurry every which and where,

Until tired tots succumb to sleep

With wondrous Christmas dreams so deep.

​

©  John W. Hiscock

​

​

​

Tired Eyes Behold This Wonderment

 

Our tree lacked lights when I was young

’Twas time when home-made decorations hung,

And the air spiced heady by the conifer

As its evergreen needles in the breeze would stir.

 

In our techno world life moves so fast

So much is fad, not meant to last,

I’ve seen such change, though I haste to mention

This new-wave theme is worth retention.

 

These lights, they dazzle, they are so bright

They dance and shimmer in the night,

Such graphic beauty, thus displayed

With deft precision, the lights arrayed.

 

Vast crowds of people come and go

The children’s faces all aglow,

Creating memories for all time

’Tis a wonderland, set so sublime.

 

Where has life gone, I heave a sigh

Would seem it has just flashed on by,

Recounting precious moments spent

Tired eyes behold this wonderment.

 

©  John W. Hiscock 

​

​

​

Prose

 

Foreword to CHRISTMAS BRIGHT book by Santa Claus 

​

Christmas greetings!

 

Of recent times, the frenetic pre-Christmas production ‘madness’ here at Santa’s North Pole Workshop has been calmed by the indulgence of a special sight-seeing ‘run’ across the skies—the sleigh laden with an expectant, ‘bubbling’, living cargo. This break with tradition was initiated at the behest of my dearest, Mrs. Claus, on behalf of all our helpers and the elves, whose untiring efforts and skills bring joy to so many children and their families at Christmas-time, thus perpetuating the symbolism and love that is Santa Claus.

 

Having oft-listened in protracted wonderment to my tales of Christmas lights running brighter and more colourful than our great Northern Lights; of countless numbers of people, across the globe, gathered in community and drawn closer together by this creative, man-made phenomenon; well, they did not want but to share the experience.

 

Such a glowing impression did the lights evoke on our first group sleigh-ride that it is now a cherished highlight on our Christmas calendar, to anticipate and to draw inspiration from. It bonds us closer as we all ‘rug-up’, pile into the old ‘caboose’ and head out into the chilly, infinite night, expectant as to what each year’s efforts will reveal—Spectacular! Fun! Significant! And oh so special! It never disappoints nor ceases to amaze.

 

Further reward is ours as we ‘let our hair down’ and celebrate with people far-flung, partaking of the true spirit of Christmas by joining pantomimes played out at countless displays. It means so much to us and infuses new life into these jolly old bones. We thank you all. Your welcomes bedazzle us. The prevailing atmosphere of togetherness is infectious and wondrous.

 

You must perpetuate it—those of you who spend hours, days, weeks and months giving to the community your magnificent creations, and those of you on the other side of the fence, viewing-in, whose appreciation makes all the hard work so worthwhile.

 

Be it that Christmas is a Christian celebration, these fairytale displays exude peace and love and are for the enjoyment of all, regardless of age, race or belief. What gift more cherished, from man to his fellow man, than an unconditional offer of friendship and warmth in the form of such beauty?

 

Children of the world, you are the future. Take inspiration from the efforts of those portrayed within these pages bright and transform the night. Revel in the wonderment and celebration that brings forth closer community.

 

May peace and happiness be yours, and may the lights burn bright in hearts and minds long after the Christmas spectacle is extinguished.

​

Santa

​

​

Excerpt from CHRISTMAS BRIGHT book "A Brilliant History"

​

How Christmas Lights Began

 

My strongest recollection of the mystical brilliance that is Christmas lights comes from the year I was a six- or seven-year-old ‘baby-boomer’ besotted by my relative’s living room fir tree. Resplendent in its traditional décor of baubles, stars and tinsel, with presents piled high at its base, the tree was different that year: it really ‘sang’. For my uncle and cousins had added a couple of strands of the most beautiful coloured lights, each in the shape of a candle and balanced precariously on pliable limbs cloaked in delicate pine needles, the deftly disguised green wiring snaking from lamp to lamp—veins delivering the energy to create such beauty.

 

I loved those Bubble Lights with their transparent, oil-filled glass housings and the lazy bubbles that glided upward as the liquid heated. The reality that it was a matter of constant adjustment to keep the darned things pointing skywards; that the Sydney summer room temperature rose dramatically as the lamps reached boiling-point; and that a round-the-clock watch was necessary because of their notorious instability and propensity to ignite flammable materials such as ageing, drying fir trees—all this was insignificant to the pleasure they imparted to innocent young eyes. It was such a simple display, and yet so significant that I can only wonder at the positive impact today’s myriad of suburban masterpieces bestows on our children!

 

​

​​​​Technical

​

Excerpt from CHRISTMAS BRIGHT book "A Brilliant History"

​

A Brief History 

The Electric Light

 

In 1809, English chemist Humphry Davy invented the first electric arc lamp by passing current from a high-powered battery between two strips of charcoal to produce light.

 

The ensuing search to create a durable and safe high-temperature filament essential in the production of a cost-effective, long-life incandescent* light bulb involved many scientists and inventors, and proved many materials inadequate to the task or too expensive. In 1879 American inventor and ‘father’ of the electric industry, Thomas Edison, produced a reliable, long-lasting incandescent bulb incorporating a carbon fibre filament derived from sewing cotton which burned for thirteen-and-a-half hours. He gave the first public demonstration of the bulb when he lit his Menlo Park, New Jersey, laboratory on December 31 of that year.

*Incandescent light bulbs produce light when their filaments are heated by an electric current to the point where they emit light (incandescence).

 

Edison invented a complete system that included parallel circuitry, improved power generation and conduction, voltage regulation, light sockets, switches, insulation materials and safety fuses, all combining to make his electric light efficient, economical and safe for home use—a viable alternative to existing gas lighting.

 

Seeking higher efficacy in lamps, the General Electric Company’s William Coolidge invented ductile tungsten, and a new incandescent light bulb using a tungsten wire filament was released into the market. The modern light bulb was born.

 

In the years since, lamps have continued to be improved and new methods of light generation have been invented, with prime consideration being given to cost effectiveness and, more recently, the environment.

​