| The Night Before Christmas By David 24 December, 2002 On the night before Christmas, I sit all alone And dream about Christmases that I have known The very first Christmas that now comes to mind A long time ago, in a more simple time I barely remember, I think I was three And stood at the foot of my Grandfather’s tree A towering giant, a dozen feet tall And if I were bigger, I still would feel small My grandmother’s ornaments, handmade and bright Sweet gingerbread cookies baking all night Small stockings stuffed full with small presents and toys Tangerines, nuts, and the folly of boys My Grandfather bouncing me, small, on his knee A time full of winsomeness, happy and free And then a few years later, I think I was nine We waited for Dad, who was never on time And yet for the six of us Christmas was grand Together, our family, best in the land My father came slowly, but well worth the wait For there in the box were those shining new skates I went to his side then, so mild and meek I told him I loved him, a kiss on his cheek So many years later, it seems now I’m a man With my own small family and Christmas to plan So quiet and simple, and yet all so new A child of my own now, this magical yule She’s only eight months old, and not quite aware Of all the bright paper and packages there And yet, on this Christmas, the first one we shared Brought joy to my soul; dispelled all my cares Another year later, and then there were two A new little sister, and much more to do So many years followed, for me and my girls Together and happy, while Winter’s gale whirled A new Christmas followed, I was forty-five But fewer past Christmases were so alive I sat by a fire alone with my wife On Christmas Eve we two, oh, so full of life! But just a year later, our paths went astray I went on with my life, and she went away. It wasn’t much longer, now at forty eight The best Christmas ever was well worth the wait A long way from Christmases past I had known In far away Holland, my new family home A sweet, gentle woman stood there by my side With her two small children, my family and bride We laughed and we cried as her stories she told We dreamed of our being together and old But all that seems lifetimes and light years ago A year now has past, and there with it the glow For on this new Christmas Eve, 2002, When others are feeling the spirit of yule I dream of past Christmases, gone, one-by-one, For this year on Christmas Eve, I am alone |
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