A Special Gift For Christmas

Whirling winds sprinkled glittering snow on Christmas eve Tears flowed down a mother's face praying on her knees A dark fireplace sat with no red embers of burning coal Children in threadbare blankets shivered in the cold No Santa carrying a bag of toys, came down the chimney An angel fluttering white wings appeared from eternity Holding gold stem roses, opening petals in full bloom She twirled pointing them at every place in the room Flames danced in the hearth with warm flickering light A turkey turned on a spit as stew bubbled all night Flashing pink lights decorated a silver evergreen tree Winter clothes and presents lay underneath the leaves Blue eyes twinkled as the visitor smiled, then flew away A new surprise was waiting for the family on Christmas day A knock on the door would bring the special gift from afar The father, a soldier would be coming home from the war Sandy Mason