Well as it’s the last weekly entry in The Book Bag of the year, I thought I’d indulge us in a Christmas Party to round off an exceptional year of poetry.

So, we’ve got cocktails, a quiz, a playlist that will suit everyone plus some prompts to get stuck into. Oh and I’ve got a poem to share and other bits and pieces.

Tear the clingfilm from the vol au vents, and let’s dive in.

---

First, here’s a cocktail from the bar. A Yule Mule.

In a tumbler add:
A good scoop of crushed ice
50ml Vodka
100ml Cranberry Juice
100ml Ginger Beer
50ml Orange Juice

Garnish with:
A Sprig of Rosemary
A few cranberries
A slice of orange

---

Get comfortable and stay away from Google. Before the music starts and everyone dances like they’ve just discovered movement let’s have a little poetic quiz. Only 15 questions on the topic of poetry:

Who released their debut collection ‘Sculling’ in 2025?

How many lines are in a sonnet?

Complete the title of this collection from Gill Barr,

‘A Wide River_____ __’

Which famous Irish Poet wrote “Digging”?

“Rage, rage against the dying of the light” was written by

A. Dylan Thomas
B. WH Auden
C. TS Eliot

How many words are required for a quadrille?

Who wrote the winter poem Harbinger found in this year’s Christmas / Winter anthology from Black Bough Poetry?

Who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2025?

In which TS Eliot poem does the line “Winter kept us warm” appear?

How many syllables in total are in a standard haiku?

Who was the first Poetic Voice to appear in The Book Bag?

What is the name of my poem in the anthology Rites & Trials, recently published by Broken Spine?

Name the current British Poet Laureate.

What is a quatrain?

How many presents in total would you receive from your true love in the 12 Days of Christmas?

How did you find that? Has it made you hungry?

Why not treat yourself to a snack from the buffet.

There’s a lovely Baileys Christiramisu at the end there. Just make sure Marjorie doesn’t hide it to take later…

---

Here’s a winter poem for your enjoyment (hopefully).

---

I’ve given the DJ the nod to start the disco.

Here’s the playlist he will be using. Feel free to offer any more suggestions…

The Pogues Featuring Kirsty McColl — Fairytale of New York
Mariah Carey — All I Want for Christmas Is You
Ariana Grande — Santa Tell Me
Wham! — Last Christmas
Leona Lewis — One More Sleep
Kool & The Gang — Celebration
Chic — Good Times
Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now
Kylie Minogue — Spinning Around
Lady Gaga & Beyoncé — Telephone
Bruce Springsteen — Dancing In The Dark
Daft Punk — Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)
Boney M. — Mary’s Boy Child
Slade — Merry Xmas Everybody
Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone
Sia — Candy Cane Lane
Taylor Swift – Ophelia
Cher — DJ Play A Christmas Song
Backstreet Boys — Backstreet’s Back
Chappell Roan — Pink Pony Club
P!nk — Raise A Glass
Whitney Houston — I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Bryan Adams — Summer of ‘69
Queen — Don’t Stop Me Now
Elton John — Step Into Christmas

---

Who’s worn out? Me too. Time to settle in for a Christmas Film or 2.

The popcorn and spiced almonds are coming around with some Black Forest Hot Chocolates.

We’re starting with The Snowman. And once we’ve shed some winter tears we’ll get joyous with Elf.

What are your favourite lines from Elf? Or are you not even a fan?

---

Here’s a gift for you all. Three festive poetry prompts to keep you busy.

Snow Globe Nights – write a nighttime piece as if you are stuck inside a snow globe, What’s the scene you’re surrounded by? What’s happening outside the curve? Stick to less than 100 words.

The Joy of Smiles – create a 30-word poem on a smile or smiles of loved ones. Avoid cliche and make it dynamic.

North Star – Inspired by the night sky, craft a free verse poem with the North Star as the central focus point. Make it cosmic and epic in scale with a generous 150 words split into 5 stanzas.

---

It’s time to zip up The Book Bag for the final time of the year. There is one last gift though. For anyone who missed the submission window for the Unwhispered Legacy anthology. You have until 9pm on Wednesday 17th December 2025 to submit up to 2 pieces. Details on subs here.

---

I hope to catch some of you at the launch of the Black Bough Christmas Anthology that is happening later today (5pm GMT) – tickets are free and available here.

---

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year To You All