A Christmas Tale

As evenings dark began to close in
a little girl wipes her nose on her sleeve.
Listless and hungry she walks in the snow
a poor and lost soul, one cold New Year’s Eve.

Her dead mothers slippers were much to large,
they were flip flopping while crossing the street,
two wild carriages coming full speed
made her lose them, now she walks in bare feet.

She glances in windows as she walks by,
families eating and making good cheer,
her pains from hunger she tries to ignore,
she’s starving and freezing, poor little dear.

The north winds cold breeze keeps blowing her face
catches her breath as it blows back her hair.
She spots a dark alley where she can lay,
Tired and windblown she can no longer care.

She curls in a ball tucking frozen feet
carefully under her old blanket cloak,
she leans on the building, closing her eyes
now given up and her spirits are broke.

A shaggy old dog, nudges her gently
she hugs him and draws him close to her heart,
smiling she whispers, we’ll go together 
when Jesus finds us, we’ll never more part

Then both of their eyes close, she bathes in dreams,
sitting at a fire, with food on the hearth.
When she awakes, a lady stands smiling,
pats the old dog saying, good boy old Barth.



The Little Match Girl by H.C. Anderson
Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening-- the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast.


Written by Brenda Meier-Hans 
12.03.2014
Contest: A Christmas Tale
Sponsor Debbie Guzzi
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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A   Avatar
January 11, 2015 at 9:09 PM
A sweet win, Brenda....PD
Roper Avatar
January 6, 2015 at 8:17 PM
Tear you succeed to win, awesome write. Congratulations on your win, Brenda 7
A. Sharma Avatar
January 6, 2015 at 3:41 AM
Intriguing write Brenda! Congrats on top place win my dear! Hv a blessed day!
Kayode Avatar
January 6, 2015 at 12:05 AM
This is highly interesting,good theme favoured with beautiful words; congrats Brenda...huggs
Callus Avatar
January 5, 2015 at 5:25 PM
Well done Brenda! You are a very good story teller! Very much enjoyed this heart warming story that ends in a most fitting way for Christmas. Congratulations on this merited podium finish! // paul
Yvonne Avatar
January 5, 2015 at 4:52 PM
Congratulations on your well deserved win.
Allison Avatar
January 5, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Dropping back with my congrats Brenda:-) Hugs Jan xx
Mehta Avatar
January 5, 2015 at 8:05 AM
Nicely done tale, congrats on the win, Brenda
Chakrabarty Avatar
January 4, 2015 at 11:55 PM
Hi Brenda. Congratulations on win. Love and respect. God bless you. Rajat
Haight Avatar
January 4, 2015 at 9:19 PM
Hi Brenda, congratulations to you for your 1st Place win for this outstanding Christmas tale! Extremely creative! Hugs, Sandra
Mcdaid Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 8:16 PM
truly excellent tale brenda loed this piece
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 9:20 PM
Thank you Liam
Dunn Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 12:00 PM
7777777777 Across the board, great imagery, perfection at telling this old tail that I've always loved so much, Wonderful Brenda if I could give you higher marks I would dearest lady, and this is the perfect time of year for this wonderful story to be told, I don't think any other work for this contest could hold up against yours, cheri
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 6:42 PM
Thank you for your kind and positive comment Cheri.
Petersen Potter Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 8:25 AM
Beautiful pen Brenda! I truly enjoyed your XMas story my dear friend. A7 for you! have a lovely weekend! :) love and hugs! xxxxx D
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 6:41 PM
Thanks so much Dorian
Trifiatis Avatar
December 4, 2014 at 8:21 AM
A fantastic narrative that honors the father of the tale! Captivating and wrapped in the Christmas spirit so as to warm the heart of the reader! Excellent work and a seven. Good luck, dear Brenda!
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 5, 2014 at 6:41 PM
Thanks so much Demetrios
A. Sharma Avatar
December 4, 2014 at 3:12 AM
Tremendous write Brenda! loved much my friend! gl in contest!
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 4, 2014 at 7:22 AM
Thank you Dr. Sharma
Meade Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 7:16 PM
You rock girlfriend . . . I a sucker for dog stories . . . and this was awesome!!
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 9:17 PM
Thanks David
Dietrich Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 3:26 PM
So it looks like you changed the story so that a dog saved her? That is pretty cool. I have not really read the story and so I think the dog was added in by you. It was a really good idea to have her with that dog! I enjoyed your creative ending!
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 4:12 PM
Thanks Andrea. The original story has a very sad ending. I hate sad ending so yes I had to find something to save her.
Allison Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 3:19 PM
beautifully penned Brenda - oh such deep sad imagery - good luck with the contest a brilliant write my friend:-) hugs Jan xx
Meier-Hans Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 4:10 PM
Thanks so much Jan.
Allison Avatar
December 3, 2014 at 3:19 PM
forgot the 7 doh
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