S20E2: "Mistletoe" by Walter de la Mare (S14 Encore)

December 8, 2025 · 11 min · Season 20 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode revisits the poem 'Mistletoe' by Walter de la Mare as part of a seasonal exploration of Advent and Christmas poetry.

As befits the time of year, we will be re-visiting six poems of Advent and Christmas during this twentieth season of the Well-Read Poem. We have selected certain familiar ones, which may yet contain certain surprises in their authorship and composition history, as well as some less well-known pieces which we hope will help you better enjoy the late days of the year leading up to the great Feast of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Today's poem is "Mistletoe" by Walter de la Mare. Reading begins at timestamps 5:23 and 8:10. Mistletoe by Walter de la Mare Sitting under the mistletoe (Pale-green, fairy mistletoe), One last candle burning low, All the sleepy dancers gone, Just one candle burning on, Shadows lurking everywhere: Some one came, and kissed me there. Tired I was; my head would go Nodding under the mistletoe (Pale-green, fairy mistletoe), No footsteps came, no voice, but only, Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely, Stooped in the still and shadowy air Lips unseen—and kissed me there. This podcast is brought to you by The Literary Life Podcast . To find out more about from Thomas Banks, visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com .

People in this episode

Host: Thomas Banks

Topics covered

Advent poetry
Christmas poems
Walter de la Mare
poetic analysis
seasonal literature

Keywords

Mistletoe
Walter de la Mare
Advent
Christmas
poetry
literature
poem analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HouseofHumaneLetters.com

Books & works: "Mistletoe"