Mistletoe Mystery: Shadows Lurking Everywhere

A dark, mysterious, and romantic excerpt from a classic Christmas poem.

All the sleepy dancers gone, Just one candle burning on, Shadows lurking everywhere: Some one came, and kissed me there. From Mistletoe by Walter de la Mare.

I plucked four lines right out of the middle of a poem. It doesn't really change the context, but does focus an the darkness and mystery of the poem, and of love in general. Christmas is a time of new love... that may not make it to New Year's Eve.

I find the idea of fleeting and mysterious small romantic or non-romantic gestures attractive. One small kiss out of nowhere, Merry Christmas. Now go to bed, the dancers are even asleep.

The holiday season is about exploring and playing with tradition we've all experienced many times. Combine the old with the new, with happiness and sadness and of course with sentiment. It's great, but it all ends soon after. So please have a fun time on your journey through Christmas this year.

The font used in the image is Iowan Old Style Roman.

Mistletoe
Walter de la Mare

Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Some one came, and kissed me there.

Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air
Lips unseen—and kissed me there.