A Neighborhood Child

One Christmas eve    my ceiling hung
With thready webs    a glow behind
Cast lace patterns on my bed

That Yule    eight reindeer ran the covers
Then through every midnight room
I cried to mother    father    brother

All of whom had shed    by dream
Their task of season’s rush and bother
Free    but lost to my entreat

“Can’t you see them paw    prance?
Oh    mother    how they rear and point
At Santa – that jolly     Christmas    ghost”

All filmy things    once designated
Then    not real    evaporated
And I sat straight up in bed

Rubbed the cobwebs from my eyes
Memory of tinsel    candy
Presents in my drowsy head

Awake to silence    angel hair
Little men in forest dress
Imaginary pixies on the stair

And then    remembering the tree
(all hazy else    it seems    had been a dream)
The tree that by our fireplace rose

In thought it glowed above the dreamy web
Those blue    green    red    silver lights    
Had formed quaint phantoms on my bed

I’m up    on tiptoe    and carefully
Am sneaking toward the living room
(Inky blackness    don’t you see)

Don’t you see the little man
Dressed in Santa suit   belt     and boots
Spreading presents neath the tree

Now truth be known    so sorry am I to say
‘Little boy blue’ is yet in bed
Those phantom figures swimming his head

And late that eve    ceiling bright
With visions of the coming day
The wisest Angel of the night

Makes visit    singing    of the play
A song of filial brotherhood
With child invests the neighborhood
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Dietrich Avatar
December 25, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Oh, I just read your comment to my other poem. YEs, our poems are somewhat similar, about little kids on Christmas Eve!
Dietrich Avatar
December 25, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This had a dreamy nostalgic quality to it, DAve. Nice little read! Thanks for commenting on my poems, I have lots of humorous ones in store for you (just dont' dare to post all my stuff at once). Hope to see your funny stuff too in the future! andrea
Strand Avatar
December 18, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Especially like the first triplet,an inner poem Daver.Rgds Brian & thanks for your kind words.
George   Avatar
December 15, 2009 at 3:54 AM
It would appear to me you were visted by Mr. Poe - HO! hO! HO! lol! You never cease to amaze and delight, dear Daver. Love,Lainie
Curcio Avatar
December 12, 2009 at 7:18 AM
Wonderful, daver. Your poetry continues to delight. Merry Christmas
Richards Avatar
December 9, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Me thinks you were a captivating child with a huge imagination....me thinks that the little boy blue is you...and you still have that wonderful captivating imagination... Please never lose it...and please never "grow up"! Loved this poem! :) Luv, Carrie
Guzzi Avatar
December 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I like your comments..they SAY something..something other than "congrad's" you're a meaningful man! Light & Love
Delacroix Avatar
December 9, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Very nice memories shared in the fun and well written poem. Thanks for sharing. Caroline.
Gorelick Avatar
December 9, 2009 at 3:08 PM
what a neat poem Dave-r..it gets better as you read it again. Mery Chrstman you...Bg
Dufresne Avatar
December 9, 2009 at 2:36 PM
ahh yes --christmas dreams, merry christmas lil boy blue. -Robert
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