Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house
My grandpa's fast at work carving a wooden mouse
In the spirit of St. Nick he bloomed from his heart
And sang holiday cheers and Noel's from the start
I tiptoed down the steps to his basement and all
Following a trail of music, and grandpa having a ball
I hid from his sight and watched tears run down his eyes
As he carved each toy mouse to its original size
For most of the year, grandpa's an unhappy sport
But save for one night of the year his ship came to port
And there he was a pantomime Silent Night in cadence
As he stood over his lath and drill, his eyes adance
Five gift boxes wrapped in gold glitter waited to be filled
Each gifted to his grandkids, who surely will be thrilled
First, he added a coat of black lacquer, and I did blink
As he dressed each eye, nose, and ear in shades of pink
I may have been five years old on this Christmas Eve past
But watching grandpa come alive, a memory that will last
To have seen his silent night awaken was such a lift
To see him smile with tears in his eyes was a true gift
11/27/22
The Night Before 3 Poetry Contest
Sponsor-Joseph May
1st
some or small
you carry to adance ball
you carry change's
and little things
some do sag
THE
HAND BAG
Slip away for a moment
Into yourself
Listen to life’s sounds fade into fog
Kin to a hawk sighting possible prey
Awareness sliding into focus
Gaining momentum as you sink
Aspirations of creation
Inspiration raising neck hairs
Such is the way of selfish
Transferring feelings to thought
Making believe for the joy
Younger and older at once
Can this be held for the nonce
Held in contentment lazily lax
Even as sweet Summer rain
Ever adance on smoky glass pane
Ken ye the source of my pain?
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