Sonnet with the Compliments of the Season
The poem "Sonnet with the Compliments of the Season" by G.K. Chesterton is a humorous and satirical take on the holiday season. It pokes fun at the commercialization of Christmas and the materialism that often accompanies it. The speaker in the poem expresses his disdain for the "Christmas cheer" that he sees all around him, and instead wishes for a simpler, more meaningful celebration.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1928 · Genre: Poetry, Political Commentary, Social Critique · 189 words
First lines
TO A POPULAR LEADER MUCH TO BE CONGRATULATED ON THE AVOIDANCE OF A STRIKE AT CHRISTMAS.
I know you. You will hail the huge release, Saying the sheathing of a thousand swords, In silence and injustice, well accords With Christmas bells. And you will gild with grease The papers, the employers, the police, And vomit up the void your windy words To your New Christ; who bears no whip of cords For them that traffic in the doves of peace.
The feast of friends, the candle-fruited tree, I have not failed to honour. And I say It would be better for such men as we, And we be nearer Bethlehem, it we lay Shot dead on scarlet snows for liberty, Dead in the daylight upon Christmas Day.
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Sonnet with the Compliments of the Season is listed on Textopian as a poem by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1928 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1928 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Political Commentary, Social Critique, Religious Commentary
- Length: 189 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a sonnet, a form of poetry, with a focus on meter and rhyme.
- Political Commentary — The poem addresses political themes, such as labor strikes and societal issues, reflecting on leadership and justice.
- Social Critique — The text critiques societal norms and the actions of leaders, particularly in the context of Christmas and peace.
- Religious Commentary — The poem references religious themes, including Christmas and Bethlehem, to contrast with contemporary social issues.
Tags
poetry · sonnet · seasonal · celebration · nature · love · romance · reflection · philosophy · joy · beauty · language