Book of the Month December: 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas and other festive poems' Chris Riddell

‘Peace is the season’s anthem

And goodwill the battle cry.

And on this holy of holly nights

pine needles on fire pierce the frost

the heavens give their best high fives

and snowmen packed tightly warm

follow the stars of children’s hands

for snowmen are made out of love

and mean human kind no harm.’

John Agard ‘Green Magi’

Christmas has long been a source of inspiration and a moment of reflection for poets.

This collection includes work from a range of poets including Benjamin Zephaniah, William Wordsworth, Sylvia Plath, Ogden Nash and John Agard.