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The Children Are Coming For Christmas by Oregonian
Rated: 3rd-5th Years •Summary: JK Rowling has told us that members of the wizarding community do not suffer from the same physical maladies as do Muggles. But in Deathly Hallows she mentions a heart-rending exception.
Date: 01/04/14 Title: Chapter 1: The Children Are Coming For Christmas
Oh, my goodness, this is scary. I'm one of seven children, and by mere coincidence, my father's name is close to the man you reference in this poem. It frightens me that this EXACT thing will happen to him. The details in which you structure this poem are just so real. You feel as though you are walking beside Arthur or Molly with these lines. These are the simple things, the simple steps that make a life. The small words that you use here to create such a flowing image are fantastic. I have chills. This is very good. I mean, I could go line by line and dissect this thing to its elements, yet there is no need. Plus, you know, I'd bore you. Well done, Vicki.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Kuri, for writing a review for this poem. I originally put it up on my poetry thread in Poetry, Anyone?, asking my fellow poets if they thought I should dare to post it on the archives or if it had crossed some boundary of inappropriateness. Nagini Riddle of Gryffindor urged me to post it, but you are the only reader who has responded. Maybe it's the sort of topic that one either identifies with or does not. But it is scary, so scary that we are all in denial about its ever happening in our own families. (My reference in DH is the reception after Bill and Fleur's wedding, when older members of the wizarding community are described as being "loopy" or "gaga", terms that indicate a mockery of dementia and a lack of understanding about its tragedy and burden.)
Harry Potter, Holly Tree by Oregonian
Rated: 1st-2nd Years •
Summary: As we try to endure that terrible final year, we cling to hope against all hope, keeping faith because we cannot bear the thought of losing faith.
This poem won First Place in the 2013 Carol Challenge.
This poem was nominated for the 2014 Quicksilver Quill Award: Best Poetry.
Date: 01/12/14 Title: Chapter 1: Harry Potter, Holly Tree
I would have reviewed this earlier, but I went on a search for the actual poem that you are using this writing for. I always give poems a few reads, step back, and read it again. I've never been a fan of poetry; that not against you, that four years studying Literatures. You have actually drawn me towards the genre. I've never read nor heard of this poem. Frankly, it reminded me of CS Lewis. The apple tree, of course, is an image that has been carried through for reasons I will not get into. Your simple word choices to write powerful imagery are donereally well here; the reference to Harry as a revered person, and here I'm reminded of Sorcerer's Stone when there's a reference to "Harry Potter Day", calls back something from the books. Why a holly tree? Is that just a holiday thing? This is my favorite line: "I weary of resisting, night and day." Well done, Vicki.
Author's Response: Thank you for the review, Kuri. Poetry usually doesn't get many reviews, so each one is valued. I too had never heard of this poem until it appeared on the list of carols to be rewritten, Potter-style, for the 2013 Carol Challenge. The new titles of old carols were given to us; we simply selected the one we wanted to rewrite, so I was not the one to substitute holly for apple. Perhaps it was just a holiday thing, although the holly did have religious symbolism for Christmas (from earlier pagan religious symbolism).
Interesting that you say it reminded you of CS Lewis. I was not aware that he wrote poetry, though I am familiar with his skillful critique of Tolkien's The Lay of Leithian when it was in draft form. Those old lays inspire my style; they are wonderful storytelling and go on for hundreds of lines.