The Ninth of December

Daddy left Mommy, when I was two She really didn't know what to do Four little children under the age of six Was a situation, she just could not fix Christmas was coming, she didn't have a dime The bills were piling up at the same time She tried to focus on her belief, Lost the battle and applied for relief A county program, for the very poor Barely kept the collectors from our door So sad she was, by her lack of funds, She couldn't buy presents, for her little ones With grandma watching us, she left to go out She never came home, we were forgot about I was too young to remember Christmas that year, It was years, before the whole story, I'd hear Grandma tried hard to make it right, She took care of us until Mom returned, one night Branded in my memory, the day of her return After nine long months, I would later learn Mom never mentioned the time she was away She loved us to the fullest every single day Twenty-four years quickly flew by When I think of the day it happened, I cry God took my mother on the ninth of December Unexpected, a loss I'll always remember Going through her belongings, we came across. A small newspaper article, that intensified the loss How we found it I will never know This plea, with a picture, from so long ago As I read the article, blurred by my tears I was transported back, through the years To a little girl on grandma's knee Looking at a shabby, Christmas Tree Crying for her mommy, who wasn't there While grandma patted her silky hair Grief, it hit me, no time to hesitate When I saw the significance of the date December ninth, the paper, said it all Memory upon memory, I would recall Two events, so many years apart Yet, I could feel the child with a broken heart Holiday Spirit, sad to say, I had none Decorating that year without the usual fun Mommies little tree, on a table it sat Her homemade ornaments, and a tree mat Going through the motions, I have to admit All I wanted to do, was quit Events don't shape us, they make us learn Even grief, has its turn Memories of a Christmas, thirty years past Impressions, they fade, but still last By Karla Null~Godsgift~ Your "Saddest" Christmas Ever Contest Sponsored by Constance LaFrance~A Rambling Poet~