Christmas Tales - Seasonal stories, poems and greetings from the Coventry Writers' Group Page 4

please an engagement ring!

  And bring peace to the world and love in our home.

  Oh yes, and protection for my brave brother fighting in a war zone.

  Dear Santa,

  My Wedding Day is almost here, on Christmas Eve I’ll be a bride.

  Mother’s iced and baked a wedding cake!

  And on that day I shall glow with pride.

  So Santa, bring me happiness and wedding gifts galore.

  Oh yes, for my brother, safe journey back from the war.

  Dear Santa,

  Christmas is cancelled, my wedding’s on hold.

  How can we celebrate after what we’ve been told?

  So we’re waiting and praying that my brother is alive.

  Dear Santa, grant me just one wish.

  Let my brother survive.

  I’m Just Going Out

  Ian Collier

  Cold stretches to the horizons.

  The explorers stumble on.

  Icicle daggers on beards.

  Hope and rations all but gone.

  Jack Frost bites, cuts and wounds,

  in lethal virgin whiteness.

  Tent flaps withstand

  the blizzard’s frigid sharpness.

  “I may be some time.”

  There was little else he could do.

  The good of the many,

  over that of the few.

  A howling dirge whistles

  for Captain Oates, in grief.

  Futile self sacrifice, buried

  under a snowflake wreath.

  Last Chance

  Mary Ogilvie

  If you see Father Christmas

  Please give him my regards,

  And ask him if he ever did

  Receive my Christmas card.

  For I'm not getting any younger

  And need to know this time,

  That the Santa I've known and loved

  Is the one I've had in mind.

  Santa

  Martin Brown

  When Santa was a little boy

  No gifts would come his way

  He never had a present,

  At all, on Christmas Day.

  Christmas time was still such fun

  With halls festooned with holly.

  A Christmas feast with Christmas pud,

  And everyone was jolly.

  People loved the singing,

  Such a festive noise!

  But no one thought of giving

  Children little toys.

  As Santa grew, he changed all this:

  He built a busy shed,

  Made toys for all the girls and boys

  Delivered on a sled.

  Soon children were expecting him,

  Along with Mum and Dad,

  Who thought it such a good idea

  To make their children glad.

  Then everyone demanded gifts,

  Grown-ups, rich and poor.

  The shops all think it’s brilliant –

  But Santa’s not so sure.

  About the Authors

  Ann Evans

  Ann was born and bred in Coventry, working at some of the companies that make up part of the industrial heritage of the region – Wickman Machine Tools and British Leyland. She then moved into journalism and worked with the Coventry Telegraph for a number of years.

  “I began writing as a hobby when my three children were little. Now with grandchildren of my own, writing has turned into a full time career and a way of life,” explains Ann. She has become a prolific author with ten children’s books and two adult novels published so far. She also writes for a number of national magazines and runs classes on creative writing.

  Michael Boxwell

  Michael Boxwell is best known for his articles and books on the environment and technology and often appears on radio and television, talking on subjects such as solar energy and electric cars. A Merry Christmas shows a more light-hearted and mischievous side to Michael’s writing, one that he is keen to expand on in the future.

  “I enjoy writing factual books and articles, but I also enjoy the creativity of short stories,” says Michael. “Up until now, most of my mischievous writing appears on Facebook and Twitter, but my next New Year’s resolution is to write more fun short stories for general circulation.”

  Rosalie Warren

  Rosalie Warren has had two novels for adults and one for young teens published in the last few years. A former university lecturer in AI and cognitive science, she now mainly reads, writes, edits, proofreads, collects, dusts and occasionally recycles books, but hasn't yet been reduced to eating one. She is currently working on a science fiction novel for adults.

  Her website is at https://www.rosalie-warren.co.uk and she blogs at https://rosalie-warren.blogspot.com/.

  Martin Brown

  Martin Brown is a Coventry kid, a regular contributor to Poets’ Corner in the Coventry Telegraph, and author of two poetry books – A Thousand Scary Cabbages and Shake Rattle and Custard – both available in local bookshops and on t' internet. He claims to have once played ‘Spin the Bottle’ with Lady Godiva, during which she lost all her clothes and afterwards rode off in a huff – and little else.

  Mary Ogilvie

  Mary has been writing for over thirty years, working as a grassroots reporter on the Coventry Telegraph for a number of years as well as writing numerous articles for various publications.

  “I have always looked on writing as a pastime rather than a way of earning a living,” says Mary. “My greatest love is writing poetry. I hope you enjoy my work.”

  Margaret Egrot

  Margaret started writing fiction in 2008 and joined the Coventry Writers’ Group shortly afterwards. She has since written a novel for older teenagers, a number of short stories and won the Coventry Tales competition for her entry Living with Lady G in 2011.

  Margaret Mather

  Margaret grew up in Scotland and moved to Coventry in 1971. She started to write 30 years ago, but work commitments meant that her writing fell by the wayside and she only took it up again recently. She joined the Coventry Writers’ Group in 2011 and has since had a short story published and won an award for her work.

  Ian Collier

  Ian has been writing for many years. As well as co-authoring several scientific works and reviews, Ian has recently had two of his short stories published in the Coventry Tales anthology.

  Elinor Reid

  Elinor is best known for trying alternative therapies such as shopping, in the firm belief that retail therapy is a holistic approach to solving the global economic crisis... and even better known for a slightly wacky sense of humour! She is convinced that life is a journey to be experienced first hand; avoiding participation is far more detrimental to our well-being than any hurts life might dish out.

  "While facing down some ancient personal demons from being abused, I was surprised by this poem eagerly jumping onto a clean crisp page. Emotions are very powerful but not to be feared after all, which is what inspired this outpouring."

  Calvin Hedley

  Calvin was brought up in Coventry as one of eleven children and graduated from Warwick University having studied history and politics. Registered blind since 1983, Calvin has been writing for a number of years.

  “I’ve been interested in creative writing for many years,” says Calvin. “I enjoy the discipline of short story writing and have had some success in creative story competitions.”

  Calvin is currently working on two novels.

  Also from Coventry Writers’ Group

  Coventry Tales

  Our city, past and present, brought to life by some of Coventry’s best-known authors and most exciting up-and-coming writers

  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time and live in the Coventry of yesteryear? Or yearned to discover the mystic power of the Coventry Ring? Want to know what Lady Godiva was like to live with, or see the wild zebra’s of Binley?

  Here, you will find al
l these stories and more. Written by some of Coventry’s finest writers, Coventry Tales explores the fabric of our city, reminding us that Coventry is both unique and special.

  If you love Coventry and appreciate storytelling and poetry at their very best, you will love this book. So sit back, relax and enjoy a good read.

  Coventry Tales is available in both printed and eBook form. It is available online and at all good bookshops, priced £4.99