A Christmas Dream

A CHRISTMAS DREAM I went to bed that Christmas night, and once again I dreamed Of my dear son who now is gone, but so real now it seemed. For I sat in the chair that’s there beside the front room door And heard the car pull in again and heard his voice once more As he walked in as oft he did and said his short hello, And I looked back into the face of one whom I loved so. We talked about the same old things while we were sitting there; He told me of the happy times, he told me of his cares. My ears were tuned to hear it all; I wanted all to know, And he knew nothing was too small that to me he could go. We felt that closeness once again, the bond of family; As minutes turned to hours, he kept speaking there to me. I wished the time would never end, for I enjoyed it so, But just before he left he said, “Bye, Mom, I have to go.” I woke up then, right in that chair where I had gone to sleep, Where memories of Christmas past had lived in dreams so deep. I looked outside to see him go, but only saw a star There shining in the midnight sky, from very, very far. Its light shone brightly through the field of that black, spacious sky, And once again, I must admit, I started there to cry, “Why did God take my precious son and leave these memories And dreams I have on many a night that he’s still there with me?” I may not know here in this life, but I know some bright day As I sit in my mansion bright, he’ll come again my way. We will not talk of problems there in his life or in mine, The closeness that we’ll feel will be the love of God Divine. A smile will be there on his face, his weariness all gone, And we can talk forever more and it will still be dawn! It will not be a dream up there like those I now may know, Nor will I hear him say again, “Bye, Mom, I have to go.” Dedicated to “Mom” Rogers, December 27, 2001, in memory of George William Rogers.