Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |
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A Gift of Christmas Magic

Christmas as a kid
Oh, how blessed I have been
To have had such a childhood!
So rife with wonderful Christmas memories

That they tumble in my mind like needles from an evergreen ...
Making cookies with Mom
Especially the gingerbread men, with raisins for buttons and eyes
Snow angels with friends at school

And talks of Santa and letters sent to the North Pole
Real trees with the large bulbs that got hot
The same bulbs that glowed in every window candle
The church fair, and the smell of the Pine Room ... divine

The living Nativity on Christmas eve
And the candlelight service at midnight
The children's choir singing "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
Far off in the vestibule, peaceful and sweet

Family parties, in a town where everyone knew everyone
Trips into the city - oh, my!
The stores all spruced up
Lighted decorations that hung across the streets

A chance to sit on The Big Guy's lap
And finalize your choice for the "big" gift
The one you thought and dreamed and talked of all year
(And only shared with Mr Claus himself)

Stockings left on the foot of the bed
That were magically filled when you awoke, (still in darkness)
And carefully opened, together with your siblings
Sneaking with them into the living room

To see whose name was on the biggest gift
And creeping in to mom and dad's room afterward
To plead for breakfast and the tree
(While Dad moaned of long hours at work ...

His cigarette glowing in the darkness)
So many joyous memories ... and so many MORE!
Yet the most wondrous of all
Was getting the family in the car

Taking a basket full of gifts and food and clothing
And leaving it on the steps of a struggling family's home
We never stayed to watch them open the door
Never said anything about it to anyone

But did it in the spirit of true giving
Without the need for confirmation or thanks
(Just the way the greatest gift of all was given to humanity)
Oh, how my child's mind would spin

With the thoughts of how joyous they must have been
To open the door and see that sight
How my heart would swell with the warming gratification
Of doing something truly unselfish

And not receiving anything in return
But oh, how I DID receive!
And what I got in return was far greater than what we had given
The blessing of a full and gracious heart

The most priceless gift my parents EVER gave me
In ALL those years of amazing presents
And the glow of that blessing still warms me today
It's the reason that Christmas has never lost its magic for me

And never, ever will.



* Did NOT place in the "Childhood Christmas Memories" Poetry Contest, Bic Gi-Sa, Sponsor. *

Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden | Year Posted 2017

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Jannie Breedt Date: 12/2/2017 3:13:00 AM You had me feeling like a child again. Detailed in beautiful perfection. Coversely we have trees bedecked with cotton wool , imitation snow. Eating cold meats and salad outside mostly 41 c degrees. Some of us were losing out. Have a blessed season Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 12/2/2017 6:03:00 PM We make the best of what we have, and it sounds like fun, my friend, cotton is much more friendly than that frozen stuff, lol. I used to ski all the time, but since I ruined my knees doing freestyle/moguls, winter holds little brightness for me - long and cold and dark - I LIVE for warm weather, and when my folks are gone I'm moving to someplace warm, (Florida or South Pacific). I hope your holiday is full of light and joy, Dear Friend - and thank you! :-)

Arturo Michael Date: 12/1/2017 3:24:00 AM Without a doubt, you had it sweet and wonderful... Lovely poem... All the best Gregory Login to Reply Gregory Richard Barden Date: 12/2/2017 5:59:00 PM Thank you so much, Arturo - I had a blessed childhood, (though I rarely saw my father, and still don't know him)! I did my best to make my teens and adulthood otherwise, however ... maybe for contrast's sake, lol?. There are ALWAYS those worse off, and I keep that perspective - life would be wasted if we didn't appreciate the good, and leave the bad behind. Blessings, my friend!