The Real Santa Claus

It was Christmas Eve and growing late;
This was the last of his paid Santa dates.
Still dressed in his red Santa gear,
He stepped inside to have a beer.

One pint soon turned into two,
Then half a dozen before the hour was through.
Nobody was waiting at home for him,
So he chased the beer with three shots of gin.

He stumbled outside the neighborhood bar;
His one bedroom apartment was not too far.
He started walking on unstable feet,
When a father and a young daughter he happened to meet.

“I wonder, Santa, if you can help us out;
My little Sarah is starting to have some doubt.
She told me tonight in her hospital bed,
That she thinks Christmas and Santa both are dead.”

“I snuck her out of her hospital room;
We were really lucky to find you so soon.
Could you please give her just one good reason
To still believe in the holiday season?”

He took a deep breadth of the cold winter air;
Even drunk he could feel the father’s despair.
He simply put his finger to the side of his nose
And let out three hardy, “Ho, ho, ho’s”.

“If you’re the real Santa,” she challenged him,
“Then what is my Christmas wish?”
“If he’s the real Santa,” she said to her Dad,
“He could give me my Christmas gift.”

Charlie looked at the father for a clue
He shrugged, not knowing what to say,
Somehow in an instant Charlie knew
And he answered Sarah in this way:

“You didn’t wish for toys or other things,
The way other kids do when they come to my place.
You just want your father to look at you
Without a sad look upon his face.”

She turned to her father and said through tears,
“I’m sorry Dad, I didn’t mean to make you sad.
But you really did find me Santa Claus,
This is the best Christmas I ever had.”

Charlie turned to the father and softly said,
“Now, I think it’s time you take her back.
Either way, things are going to be okay,
You need to accept that as a matter of fact.”

Charlie was left standing all alone,
As snowflakes started to fall.
In his loudest voice he shouted out,
“Merry Christmas and Good-night to all.”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Brown Avatar
November 7, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Congratulations on your win in P.D.'s "Holiday Poem"contest Joe. Love, Carol
A   Avatar
November 5, 2011 at 10:13 PM
JOE ;-) CONGRATULATIONS, thank you for supporting my contest... I'm just dropping by to give everyone a warm congratulations and gratitude from the heart. ((you may get this comment more than once, if you entered more than one of my contest this week)) Have a wonderful weekend, GOD BLESS,..p.d.
Taylor Avatar
November 5, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Congrats, Joe. What touching story. Great job, my friend. Nice going. Kudos. Best to you and yours. Ralph
Freeman Avatar
December 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Very Good Joe, this is a tear jerker. Sob, sob. Excellent moving paranormal happening. Agape, Moses
Devonshire Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Joe, I had tears in my eyes when Santa revealed this poor, sick girl's Christmas wish. The story behind this poem would make a terrific movie for Lifetime Network. Very touching -- now pass the hankies, please. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas, Joe. Love, Carolyn
Richards Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 1:18 PM
ps.....part of what we had experienced is written in my poem A Happy Day, if you care to take a look. :)
Richards Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM
The last two poems you have written, Joe....takes me back to a time when we spent many many hours during the holidays, in the waiting room of a San Francisco hospital...praying for a good outcome (which it was, Thank God) for our son-in-law. We saw so much of what you have described, many children who were going through something much worse than our family had to bear....these poems are touching my heart in memory.
Masters Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 8:05 AM
lovely, emotional and spot on.
Sweetheart Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 7:09 AM
A sweet tender emotional write on the message of Christmas and wishes of children ... when my husband and I visited the children's hospitals last Satureday we saw many sad expressions on their faces and seeing us dressed as the Claus couple did bring smiles and hope and fun for a time... it is the continuation of the Christmas spirit that makes it all worthwhile Joe.. a perfect piece for holiday reading my friend.. thankss with luv..
Gorelick Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 5:52 AM
Joe, A truely inspired "middle of the night" piece. I loved it. Hope your wife is sleeping peacefully and will soon be well again. Hard to be out of commission at xmas. BG
Neels Avatar
December 17, 2010 at 3:29 AM
Wow Joe! I for one are really glad you made your way down the stairs to breath life into this gem.. So warm hearted, miracles still happen, thanks for highlighting this one.. Blessings to you and your family ;) also a favorite of mine
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