O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I belong to a wonderful writer's group called Foothills Writers. This year for our Christmas celebration we decided to do something different. Well, the delicious food we shared was the traditional, but the comparisons to Christmases past ended there.

We regifted for our Dirty Santa. You read it right. We brought gifts that we had received from others through the years that we had finished with and were ready to pass along. I had a myriad of such to select from, like shopping in one of those specialty boutiques. Swapping (and Dirty Santa stealing) these gifts resulted in many a laugh.

One other thing, we each were asked to write a Christmas poem. I anguished about this for days. Should it be one of jolly joy, or of reverent faith. When we read our poems aloud to the group, I found a little of both. Mine mingled a little of both as well. It was from the heart and pretty much explains this year's Christmas cheer. 

Here it is, for your Christmas entertainment:

               A CHRISTMAS POEM

          Never did I think there’d ever be 

A year without a Christmas tree.
But this year, it’s not meant to be.

Never did my dad neglect to chop a backfield pine

Though it made my mamma sweep the needles everytime.

He untangled strands of bubble lights

And strung them round to our delight.

My father’s death took out her joy

But the hope of Christmas it did not destroy.

Never did my mom not have the spinning light

To shine on her silver tree at night.

Never did we newlyweds neglect to have a tree

It might have been a Charlie Brown, but it was fine for me.

Our meager gifts we placed beneath

And on our door we hung a wreath.

The babies grew and began to trim.

Year by year through thick and thin

We never didn’t have a tree

But this year, it’s not meant to be.

Off to college they both went

A welcome home tree was our intent.

It cheered them to know they were home

No longer did they have to roam

The tree was where it was meant to be.

It’s shining lights saying come in, let’s see.

Their lives they led apart from us,

Without the tree they would have made a fuss.

Soon our grands were doing the trimming,

Hot chocolate mugs for them were brimming.

But alas, they too have grown and gone

And now we two are back alone.

This year remodeling is our gift

Nothing about that can be swift.

So amidst our mess and moving the clutter

We’ve failed to have a single flutter

Of pine needles and light strings

And ornaments that joy will bring,

Full of memories of years past

Joys and love that long will last.

A ceramic tree we chose to light

It brings color and joy each night.

But still it isn’t quite the same.

In fact it seems a little lame.

Never did I think there’d be 

A year without a Christmas tree.

Yet the spirit of Christmas still lives on

In the night and early dawn.

It’s not the usual, but it will set 

Our focus on the One who paid our debt.

The tree reflects the joy we know.

And sets our hearts at last aglow.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Catch of the day,

Gretchen