The Gift

The Gift Some people say Christmas in this present day Wanders lost In ads and tinsel carelessly strung Upon an artificial bough; Some people say the Christmas spirit Lives no more - The simple Christ Child’s birth Coldly mocked by glittering ads For diamond rings and robot toys; Some say our plastic money cards Bring shame to one, who, born so poor, Wore no fancy clothes Or even slept in a cradle of his own While a Christian world forgets The simple song of angel praise In hustle crowds who only hum Atonal harmony of green cash tunes; Some people say that Christ remains absent From our Christmas celebrations So lost we get in buying – So drunk we get with wine; Yet, I see his star rise up again In children’s faith, eyes aglow in wonder Reflecting back into the darkest night The miracle of the Christmas story; I watch a callous world Retell the story Then remember little acts of kindness From a neighbor, or a friend, In homemade thank you cards Of cookies, cakes or ornaments; The holiday air overflows with scents of sugarplums - Pungent cloves, nutmeg sweet And aromatic cinnamon - A gift of time given to baking memories In sweet spice for children As music fills the world again, Carols dancing in our hearts, “Joy to the world!” we hear them say, “Joy to the world! The Lord has come!” Each year I watch the world turn out To stretch a loving hand of help To strangers shivering in the cold And to those living alone - To ones with rags for clothes And families who face each day Empty cupboard shelves – Whose children would be strangers To the joy of Christmas morn If not for hearts and hands Of women and of men Who bring the Magi’s gifts to poverty again; I see this cynical world So closely guard the spirit of this time A world of Santa Claus’ asks no gratitude For countless days of aching feet And traffic jams – Their love returns a hundredfold In smiles and gasps of childlike glee To nestle beneath boughs of green When morning light opens up the givers joy Spreading across a silent world A message sprung from hope, Born with a baby boy. 12/9/19