The Nutcracker Poems
Each year, PNB creates a poem to help spread the news about George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. This year, we asked our Nutcracker fans to wow us with their poetic brilliance. We were blown away by the many magical poem submissions. Read all the entries, including the winning poem by Kathryn S. Egan, below!
When snowclouds move in over Needle and Sound,
Remember where magic every year comes around.
Pacific Northwest Ballet has a show
That will set hearts afire and little eyes aglow.
Our tale is one of tiaras and mice,
Of princes and sugar plums and flowers and ice,
Of dances and snowflakes and a candy-stripe throne
And music more romantic than any you’ve known.
So put on your sparklies and beribbon your hair,
Buy a ticket to McCaw and locate your chair.
PNB’s Nutcracker is not a tough nut to crack!
We’ll dazzle and delight you, so relax and lean back.
– Kathryn S. Egan
Sugar plum wishes are in the air
Holiday traditions to plan and prepare
Stockings and ribbons and cookies and bows
Carols with lyrics that everyone knows
The magical moment to complete the scene
A timeless experience from George Balanchine
An enchanted tale that’s hard to resist
PNB’s Nutcracker is not to be missed
– Carmen Adair
be still, to feel what can be felt
in such a singularity—
transforming delight, its business and chief prodigy;
feral winters dissolv’d in ease.
in twists and dabbles and turns—
our eyes are choreographed in times
as time wagers in and acquiesces
against its own misnomers.
and in the end, it is the breath of kin
that we breathe; unconscious unities—
a countenance of lights and space &
the permanence of gifted imaginations.
– Michael Bell
In a dream full of dancing snowflakes and fantasies that take flight,
The Nutcracker whispers secrets of the magical night.
With sweet Sugar Plums and twinkling lights, all gather near,
Creating an orchestra of laughter, love, and holiday cheer.
Through the enchanted wonderland where magic unfolds,
Clara’s brave journey, a timeless tale retold.
Join us in wonder, let your spirit ignite,
For in PNB’s Nutcracker season, all hearts will feel the light.
– Isabella Carbajal
A little girl, a little doll
Wrapped up in the splendor of a Christmas Eve ball;
You, too, could take joy in the magic of Tchaikovsky,
to pirouette and passé alongside the Mouse King!
Take flight, make haste!
Not a moment’s delay-
Follow sugar plum footsteps
to the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
– Emily Garat
Whether Seattle rain pours, or wind bites your face,
there’s guaranteed snow in one precious place.
Candy canes, hot chocolate, and marzipan too,
Each year these treasures come back like they’re new.
Where childhood memories, to relevé or to spin,
Are found in sparkling crowns and each delighted grin,
Where mice battle each night as though for once they might succeed,
and flowers waltz with a drop of dew as their lead.
Snowflakes and sugar plums, Nutcracker cheer:
A tradition for each and every heart to hold dear.
– Louise Greer
The joyful magic of Christmas can feel hard to find
Yet PNB’s Nutcracker is something one of a kind
With sparkling costumes that glow with their bright, merry colors
And music that teleports from our world to another
The dancers bring to life this classic holiday story
That we hope you can see in all its Christmas glory.
– Victoria Guzman
📱 I know I’m just eight years old
but I’ve noticed something strange.
There’s been a change.
Mom and Dad have started looking,
staring at phones
“daddy can we play blocks?”
“Sorry I’m doing important stuff.”
“What?!”
so I decided to run, run, run away
and I know the perfect place
The Nutcracker!
I heard them say “please turn off all electronic devices.”
Yay! PNB is the best!
so I watch ballerinas twirling (not on screens)
I hear live music (not through speakers)
for once I get two hours straight with no phones
All at McCaw Hall! 💃
– Ada Hendrickson
Snowflakes are falling, what a radiant sight!
Hear the clip clop of hooves, taste a chestnut delight.
PNB’s Nutcracker invites you inside,
Where sweet dreams and mouse mischief waltz side by side.
You’ll find that merry pitter-patter’s not reindeer at all,
But the allegro of pointe shoes echoing through our halls.
– Quinn Humphreys
There’s something better than the view
Of a prince and fairy pas de deux,
More joyful than a jaunt to Seattle
For mice versus toys in a dazzling battle,
And even more (dare I say) “cool”
Than a stage all aswirl with pink satin and tulle.
What could be better, would you like to know,
Than this classic that kindles that holiday glow?
The only thing better, as you may have guessed,
Is sharing the magic with those you love best!
– Robyn Macon
Welcome, welcome, welcome to all!
This is the best show you will ever recall.
With PNB’s Nutcracker you’ll be dazzled by scenes
And characters like the Sugar Plum Queen.
Now hang up your stockings and wish for Christmas cheer
And come to PNB’s Nutcracker this year!
– Aubrey Phillips
The memories of the party began to fade
Leaving behind the terrors she came to dread.
Vision of snowflakes and flowers
Fluttering and dancing through her head.
The delicate treats felt safe,
Knowing the mouse king laid most dead.
Traveling to distant lands, making new friends
Without ever having to leave the comfort of her warm bed.
All the pressures of the day melted away with the dawn
As Santa appeared, proclaiming peace and joy widespread.
– Karen Portzer
Though it may rain instead of snow
We hang the lights and feel the glow
Of winter holidays here now, future, and past
Spent with family and friends, memories that last
With gifts to wrap and celebrations to relish
Take a minute to pause and embellish
The season with the magic of PNB’s Nutcracker
– Sophia Rawlings
When the apotheosis starts
Audiences find pain in their hearts
They’ve only seen these characters a bit
They’ve seen them dance a few minutes and that’s it
Yet already they feel they know them so well
And know that very shortly they will all dispel
The crowds don’t want them to; and they want to stay
In this realm of magic, and dance and play
Nobody wants the good time to end
But the curtain starts to descend
– Paul Sherman
As the leaves change from green to brown,
there’s a show that comes back to town.
A nutcracker, mouse king, and sugar plum fairy,
bring smiles to all faces in a season that’s merry.
So bring your family and friends and take a seat,
as you delight in PNB’s Nutcracker treat!
– Raelynne Woo
Bunny soldier sketch by Ian Falconer.
