Poetry Friday: Winnipeg at Christmas
Merry Christmas, everybody! Today many of you will be celebrating Christmas Day with close family and friends. We always travel to Alberta for the holidays so I have actually never spent Christmas Day in my home city of Winnipeg since our move here a decade ago. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas in Winnipeg. Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of having lunch with long time Winnipeg poet Sarah Klassen who told me about a special Christmas poem about Winnipeg often recited by children in local schools. The poem is “Winnipeg at Christmas” by Rose Fyleman. Written in 1927, the poem was inspired by a visit Fyleman made to Winnipeg around Christmas to give a speech at the Women’s Club. After the talk, the president of the club and Rose walked to the Manitoba Legislative grounds to have a look at the statue of Queen Victoria there. The sight of the monarch must surely have inspired these lines from the poem:
Everywhere you go;
Snow upon the housetops, snow along the street,
And Queen Victoria in her chair
Has snow upon her stony hair
And snow upon her feet.
This year at my daughter’s school’s Winter Concert, one classroom recited the poem and then made poses in vintage era clothing of scenes from the poem. The presentation was a delightful interpretation of a classic still performed by Winnipeg children to this day.
Is there a local classic that is part of your Christmas celebration in your city or town? Do share it with us at PaperTigers.
Today’s Poetry Friday host is at Book Aunt.
December 14th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Love the poem, but in deference to the author, there’s a error in your quote. It should be “snow upon her stony hair”. “Snowy hair” is an oft quoted misprint. I checked the original version which was published in PUNCH magazine in 1930.
December 14th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Thanks for that correction! I’ll make the change.