Stillness Between the Lights

Burl Ives sings in the 1965 song that he wrote “Goodwill is in the air, you can feel it everywhere, Christmas can’t be far away.”

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there’s a special kind of magic in the air, a magic you could feel in the stillness of a snowy night, in the searching for just the right tree, in the finding or creating of just the right gift for a loved one. You could see it in the faces of people walking by, in friends stopping to say hello, in the twinkling lights of the neighborhood houses.  At least that’s what it seemed years ago. Does that specialness still exist? 

What makes the holiday season special? What is your magic? Is it in certain memories or in celebrating with your kids and grandchildren? Is there wonder and joy only with, and among, the young, or is there magic no matter how old you are? Do you still feel it, or where do you try to find it when you can’t? How has the season changed since your time as a child? 

Your poem should be an invitation for the readers to pause and reflect on the season's most special moments and events. It should be a reminder of where the magic is found and how it transports us to a place of peace, love, and light. 

Our deadline for this collection is November1, 2025.  

Please submit one work only, and be sure it's your best. Read more about our guidelines.

Contact us or email hello@orenaugmountainpublishing.com with any questions.

Note: This is a draft title. It may change based on the submissions we receive.