Advent Journeys: Christmas Poems of Celebration and Remembrance

By Alfred Colo

Christmas past and present never changes. However, this authors insights infusing the poetry of every new chapter vary with every retelling from the years 1999 through 2012.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514483244

Alfred Colo

Alfred Colo, a former singer-songwriter, has immersed himself in full-blown poetry from creative love lyrics he honed his craft on when he realized that his passion for words lay beyond mere expressions of amour. His initial attempt at self-publishing with Xlibris Corporation in 2008 is a nature lover’s view in poetry through the four seasons, entitled Inside Looking Out. Reluctant at first, not offering too much material at once for reasons both pragmatic and artistic, he later ventured to expand his theme with residual material not included in his first book on four seasons alone. As his appetite grew, he knew that there was more he had to say in his accumulated poetry since 1984, which begged inclusion of more poems on the related twelve months of a year beyond the four seasons. After years of creative writing, learning and perfecting his art, he felt it was worthy enough and the right time to make public what eventually has become this collection. He trusts that his reading followers will concur that it was indeed worth the effort to have written a “companion book” to its predecessor, Inside Looking Out. Alfred lives in New Fairfield, Connecticut, after compelling circumstances led him here to exit the Big Apple. Including this one, he has authored twelve books pictured with others to follow. An active octogenarian, Alfred pursues his prolific outpourings on a variety of subjects at a still-going-like sixty white-heat rate. See if you can keep pace with a poet determined to make a mark and to leave a legacy to be proud of. He captures the spirit of his works by suggesting wholly or in part what the cover design will look like on both front and back. From his New Fairfield, Connecticut, home, author Alfred Colo finds inspiration in the abundant wild life he observes and includes in his writing. Other favorite creatures he depicts are angels, nativity scenes and yes, even Santa. Colo’s writings, are rich in detail and luminous in depth and like much of his work, it transcends its confines to achieve a dimensional reality infused with spiritual peace, whimsy, originality and creative imagination, singular cheer and good will. “I relish re-creating scenes of simple, uncomplicated faith,” Colo adds. Responding to an inner childhood calling, the author has created a succession of works as a diverse poet of impressive stature, rivaling his predecessors and role models. He is enabled to keep-fresh the approximately two-thousand-year gap from BC Bethlehem to the current beliefs in Christianity in his re-creation of this advent Christmas story of Jesus nativity.

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Copyright © 2016 by Alfred Colo.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 07/26/2016

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Foreword

What Is Advent?

What If There Was No Santa?

Who Knew?

In Bethlehem

Lullaby Melody

On Yoolis Night

Lullay, By, By, Lullaby

Christmas Was No Accident

Christmas Day In The Morning

The Borrowed Womb

Not Forgetting Joseph

Find Your Baby, Jesus

No Less Worthy

Christmas At Granny’s

A Holiday Recipe

Listen For The Bells

An Angel’s Promise

These Three Facts Can Aid Our Faith:

"For Unto Us… …

Peace

Entre’ Acte

Marry Mary

Wait

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Tintinnabulation

Messiah

Faces At The Manger

Mary’s Prayer

I Love You, Lord

Baby-Sitting Jesus

A Joyful Miracle:

Nothing Has Changed

Divinest Love

Gently, Gently

The Blessed Damozel

A Virgin’s Wedding

I Know I Will (2009)

Everywhere Christmas

Starshine

Word Pageant

Everyone’s Christmas,

Born In Glory

Just The Way We Are

White Noise

Merry Christmas Young

This Close To Christmas

The First Nativity Scene

When Christ Was Born

Queen Of Galilee

A Christmas Carol

Angels & Shepherds

What A Birth Announcement!

The Greatest Event In History Had Just Happened

This Christmas

The Riches Of God’s Peace

Once Upon A Christmas

A King’s Ancestors

A Boy, Born This Day To Be King

In This Season

Born To Be King (2006)

First Morn

Recipe For Life,

Sunrise Over Bethlehem

The Lamb Of God

Gloria (The Angels’ Song)

Guarded Only By Angels

Perfect

The Love You Give

Cradle Song Duet: (Mary & Joseph)

Natal Month (2006)

Everywhere Christmas-Day

Christmas Sale

Holly In The Heart

For Somebody’s Christmas

December To Remember

White Night

The Christmas Dove

On Christmas Day

In Bc Bethlehem

A Sense Of Wonder

Birthright

Remembering Mary

Fit For A King

Isn’t He?

Midnight Lullaby

Revival In Bethlehem

The Youngest Lisper

Count Down To Christmas

A Power-Ball-Christmas

In The Nick Of Time

The Best Christmas Ever

I Wish

O Christmas Wreath

No Chimney Required

Family Love

This Thanksgiving Song

Merry Christmas

Not A Wonderland

A Seasonal Tribute, In Celebration Of Jesus,

The Meaning Of Christmas

The Taste Of Snow

Holidays Home

It’s Almost Midnight

It Looks Like Christmas

The Gift Of Christmas

A Jesus Profile: (2007)

God’s Beloved

This Winter’s Night

Christmas Is

Dare!

Bethlehem Road

What Inn Was This?

Where Christmas Comes Together

Christmas Star

Just A Heart Beat Away

The Lord Rises Upon You

Nothing Less, Nothing More

The Longest Night

Christmas Home

The Festival Of Christmas

Rocking Stockings

Save Santa The Trip

Small Miracles (2007)

A Carol To My King

Diaspora

The Waiting Season

God Sings!

The Best News Of The Year

Christmas Angels

The Festival Of Christmas

Every Day. Find A Way!

In A Manger Born

Jesus Alive

Lovely Lullaby

Christmas Cardinal

Not Only At Christmas (2004)

Balsa Star

Another Way

The Santa Question

Wishing

Where Christmas Never Ends

A Winter’s Night

No Ordinary Child

A Closer Look

The Greatest Prize

Story Of Christmas

Problem Solved

Of Christmas Love And Grace

The Meaning Of The Christmas Story

Manger Jesus-Size

A Shepherd’s Wife

Lullaby, Baby…

Who Better?

A Virgin’s Lullaby (2007)

A Strange Star Rising

Four Kings

The Seeker

A Family For Christmas

Pine Moon

Green Christmas Dreaming

Staying Power

A Moment In Time

Our Guest Has Arrived

Topsy-Turvy

Advent Calendar

Keep Christmas Well!

At The Inn A Maid-Servant Remembers

The Gloria (Angel’s Song)

A Year Ago Christmas

They Said

In A Clash Of Choirs

Jesus, God’s Choice To Crown

Zecheriah’s Tongue Untied

O Morning Star

Premonition

Midnight Now

Without The Birth Of Jesus

Star Light, Star Bright

The Camel Of Jesus

No Child

Your Borning Cry

Waiting For Christmas

He’ll Be Back

The Spirit Of Christmases Past

The Promise Of Christmas

Welcome This Special Child

The Truth About Christmas

Christmas Lullaby

Morning Star

In The Cradle Of Your Heart

Advent Celebration

Hail Mary

In The Name Of A Child

Christmas Is More (1990)

What Shall I Wish You For Christmas?

A Christmas Tapestry

It Must Be Time

Just Around The Corner

How Wise, Men

Why Shepherds?

The Birth Of Our Lord

A Sleepy Town Of Bethlehem

A Christmas State Of Mind

Touched By An Angel

Comes Christmas

Sweet Angel

The Miracle Of Christmas

Christmas Greetings (1996)

Give Me An Old-Fashioned Christmas

1.tif

ALFRED COLO

Alfred Colo, a former singer-songwriter, has immersed himself in full-blown poetry from creative love lyrics he honed his craft on when he realized that his passion for words lay beyond mere expressions of amour.

His initial attempt at self-publishing with Xlibris Corporation in 2008 is a nature-lover’s view in poetry through the four seasons entitled Inside Looking Out. Reluctant at first, not offering too much material at once for reasons both pragmatic and artistic, he later ventured to expand his theme with residual material not included in his first book on four seasons alone.

As his appetite grew, he knew that there was more he had to say in his accumulated poetry since 1984, which begged inclusion of more poems on the related twelve months of a year beyond the four seasons.

After years of creative writing, learning and perfecting his art, he felt it was worthy enough and the right time to make public what eventually has become this collection.

He trusts that his reading followers will concur that it was indeed worth the effort to have written a companion book to its predecessor, Inside Looking Out.

Alfred lives in New Fairfield, Connecticut, after compelling circumstances led him here to exit the Big Apple. Including this one, he has authored twelve books pictured with others to follow.

An active octogenarian, Alfred pursues his prolific outpourings on a variety of subjects at a still-going-like sixty white-heat rate.

See if you can keep pace with a poet determined to make a mark and to leave a legacy to be proud of.

He captures the spirit of his works by suggesting wholly or in part what the cover design will look like on both front and back.

From his New Fairfield, CT, home, author, Alfred Colo finds inspiration in the abundant wild life he observes and includes in his writing. Other favorite creatures he depicts are angels, nativity scenes and yes, even Santa.

Colo’s writings, are rich in detail and luminous in depth and like much of his work, it transcends its confines to achieve a dimentional reality infused with spiritual peace, whimsy, originality and creative imagination, singular cheer and good will. I relish re-creating scenes of simple, uncomplicated faith, Colo adds.

Responding to an inner childhood calling, the author has created a succession of works as a diverse poet of impressive stature, rivaling his predecessors and role models.

He is enabled to keep-fresh the approximately 2000 year gap from BC Bethlehem to the current beliefs in Christianity in his re-creation of this advent Christmas story of Jesus nativity.

DEDICATION

Alas, Christmas returns yearly before we know it, and with the age-old dilemma of what gifts to share with those we love. I’ve bought enough presents in my day to know that most things we purchase either wear out, shrink, break, or get lost. So, with each year, buying things has become less and less appealing.

But, what I do feel strongly about is gift-giving; something to cherish for years to come. For me, poetry and music, which I am pleased to share with others, qualify as experiences because we learn from and enjoy them time and again.

I sincerely and humbly trust that this Advent/Christmas brings you joy, hope and light; may you discover happiness in this collection, as I have in the creation freely offered to you here

In Christ’s love,

ALFRED COLO

FOREWORD

ADVENT JOURNEY

(Through the greatest Christmas Story ever re-told)

Christmas past and present never changes. However, this author’s insights infusing the poetry of every new chapter, varies with every re-telling from the years 1999 through 2012.

Conceived with the gracious support of two church denominations: the New Fairfield United Methodist and the First Congregational houses of worship, production of these sacred works continued through the years outlined above and on the Contents page of this volume, binding in one cover, all twelve pamphlets.

Inspired by the basic Advent Journey itself, it was a no-brainer, not to link them all in a chain of chapters, enriched with re-told variations in the poetry contained and presented here.

Again as in my previous self-published 2013 book, entitled Selected Short Subjects, each pamphlet could never, by itself, have had greater worth than the sum of its parts, as a yearly effort’s conception of my own maturing Advert Journey progressed.

Further, I make no apologies for some of the writing, echoing minor similarities in the story itself; the liknesses end with each re-telling; the combined effort being impacted and indeed reenforced by such inclusion.

It has been said: It often takes ten years to become an overnight success; so too, has it taken me a more than an equal time span to complete my own ‘take’ on the timeless story of Jesus’ Nativity; peopled by witnesses of the conception of, arguably the greatest character who ever lived. He was distinguished with the honor of dividing time itself (BC—AD-CE).

I pray that the heightened speech of the poems herein, rewards each of my readers with fresh understanding and greater appreciation for Jesus Christ’s revolutionary teachings, and life-style fulfillments of Old Testament Prophesy.

May you all be richly blessed by your own advent Journeys through the Christmases of New Testament history, and in the faith that God’s only begotten Son might be born again in the cradle of your hearts, now and in the christmases to come, until we see Him face-to-face in the Kingdom hereafter, in the name of Christ Jesus,

His author and Servant,

Alfred Colo - 2015

WHAT IS ADVENT?

THE WORD ADVENT means coming. The season of Advent refers to a time leading up to Christmas, set aside to help prepare us to welcome the birth of Christ. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and is observed by hundreds