Christmas Eve at The Moon Under Water

by Carol Ann Duffy

All the lights were on at the Moon Under Water
and the landlord, an Owl, was slowly pulling a pint
to test his ale. Toothsome. It was Christmas Eve
and the fire in the ancient grate gargled its flames . . .

A horse walks into a bar. A hedgehog plays the piano. An owl mulls a flagon of wine. On Christmas Eve at the Moon Under Water, anything is possible, so when the landlord announces a festive prize for the best performance of the night, all and sundry pile into the pub, eager for a chance at victory.

In Christmas Eve at the Moon Under Water all the old rivalries of the natural world are suspended for one miraculous night, as man stands shoulder to shoulder with animal, and predator and prey add warble and wail to the Yuletide chorus.

The enchanting new festive poem from Carol Ann Duffy, former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, and adorned with sumptuous illustrations, Christmas Eve at the Moon Under Water is the perfect festive gift for the poetry lover in your life.

Genres: Poetry, Christmas

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Dame Carol Ann Duffy, DBE, FRSL is a Scottish poet and playwright. She is Professor of Contemporary Poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University, and was appointed Britain's Poet Laureate in May 2009.

She is the first woman, the first Scot, and the first openly LGBT person to hold this position.

Her collections include Standing Female Nude (1985), winner of a Scottish Arts Council Award; Selling Manhattan (1987), which won a Somerset Maugham Award; Mean Time (1993), which won the Whitbread Poetry Award; and Rapture (2005), winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize.

Her poems address issues such as oppression, gender, and violence, in an accessible language that has made them popular in schools.

Reviews

[Chrissie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful vivid illustrations bring this cozy festive poem to life

[abi slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

pros ✅
- love describing ale as “toothsome”
- warm, comforting and silly
- very short
- lovely stylised illustrations
- i liked that the animal characters were interacting and behaving like humans, all of the little mannerisms and conversations that commonly appear in a pub environment but they’re animals

cons ❌
- somewhere between poetry and prose, somewhere undefined in terms of reader-age. feels a little confused as to what it’s meant to be
- should’ve read this in december
- think it needs to be read aloud to make more sense
- i definitely prefer her adult poetry

[Stella B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaux Carpentier the illustrator you are <3

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cheekily read this in Waterstones whilst waiting for a bus home. Carol Ann Duffy’s Christmas Eve in the Moon Under Water is a beautifully illustrated festive fable. It's A Midsummer Nights Dream meets The Canterbury Tales. I recommend to readers aged 8+. No content warnings.

[Vicki Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be a cheat to add to my good reads challenge 2023 but it is a book and I have read it today so it counts… love these and have the full set so far.
Gorgeous and beautifully illustrated with clever poetry. Love it.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Performances at the pub by animals and humans alike to result in a prize for the best. Uses some of the most familiar references to other Christmas stories and songs. Beautifully illustrated. A warm and fun read.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful little book. Small but perfectly formed.

[jolovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Christmas poem.

The descriptions are gorgeous. They're also often playful and funny.

It's bursting with warmth and celebration and feels so festive. A treat for all the senses, you can almost smell the spices in the Christmas mull, the fire is roaring and there are references to carols throughout.

There's a feel of togetherness and community. And for me the message is let's live harmoniously alongside one another, respect nature, be united and love and accept one another.

The illustrations by Margaux Carpentier are colourful and oh so beautiful too.


'A man came in, seasoned with snow; ordered a half,
then stood with his back to the hearth, toasting his arse.
A horse walked into the bar. Why the long face? said the Owl.
You're a hoot, said the Horse. I'll have a mulled wine.'

'The Owl was renowned for the skill of his mull - its fragrant blend
of Chianti, clementine, cinnamon, cloves, lemon, lime,
bay leaf, vanilla, sugar, nutmeg and star anise.
The Horse could feel it warming his four knees.'

'Snow on snow,
snow on snow... A Partridge stared from the pear tree;
two Turtle-doves from the oak.'

'A benign equivalence
spread, softened, settled on each living soul.'

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't exactly a favourite from Duffy's Christmas poems, but I'm always happy to add another of them to my collection and continue the tradition of reading one every Christmas Eve.

My favourite moments in these are always the simple, understated lines that evoke vivid images, like "A man came in, seasoned with snow", or "a Spider tinselled the wooden beams". The accompanying artwork this time around is bold and vibrant, suiting the tone of revelry.

[Emma Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book with bright and vivid illustrations. As usual, Duffy has produced charm and Christmas relevance into a small book that can be enjoyed by all ages. The religious part is understated, and may well be overlooked by those indifferent to the nativity!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these Christmas poems and look forward to them every year. This one, set in a pub on Christmas eve where a host of animals celebrate the festive season, has a subtle nod to the nativity story and is very sweet, and the illustrations by Margaux Carpentier are lovely.

[Tea Leaves and Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of winter writing - perfect for short, uncomplicated reading.

[Chara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’re left with a warm feeling. Happy Christmas!

[Rebecca Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful book full of stunning illustrations. A festive poem that weaves threads from the nativity and nursery rhymes.

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A festive treat and beautifully illustrated .

[mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️’s (Like).

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this sat by the Christmas tree on a cold windy evening, and every single page was filled with colour, joy and warmth. A delight to read!

[Vikki M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little prose poem - a lovely short read for Christmas Eve, I’ll probably read it every year

[Matilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and cute read suiting for the holiday spirit! It’s charming in its content and not too obscure to understand the meaning. Overall a cute read and cute edition to the bookshelf!

[Frances Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, colorful illustrations with a creative, slightly snarky take on an old story.

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love either the text or the illustrations.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a quirky and lovely festive read with gorgeous illustrations by Margaux Carpentier. Thoroughly recommend this seasonal read.

[Sandra Armor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story with spectacular illustrations.

[Alicia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Carol Ann Duffy book. My second Christmas reading it. Beautiful illustrations too.