In
New Zealand, Christmas is a summer event.
Though no snow, we have a
native tree that announces the advent of the season. All year, the pohutukawa
is a hardy evergreen. But come December, it suddenly erupts in bright red
flowers. By Christmas these blossoms start shedding a carpet of crimson
under the pohutukawa.
Christmasses in Red
Oh spread your red carpet
proud pohutukawa
your carmine haemorrhage
heralds a new king's borning
blood river brother
the song of gathering shepherds
the confusion of angels
the stable platform flows
all ways
from Bethlehem
to New Zealand
with love.
Friday, 24 December 1999 23:26
