PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

One of the things I’me grateful for about the Holiday season

as it lingers with us for a while…

is how it reminds me as I look around

there is always a reason to smile.

As tormented as Vincent Van Gogh was…

there was also a lot of wisdom there…

He said: if you truly love nature…

you will find beauty everywhere..

And following his logic…in this season of Noel…

If we truly love Christmas and the holidays

We should be able to find love everywhere

and everyday…as well.

I am an early riser…I get up while the heavens are still dark…

before the birds and animals come out to play…

before the night moves on and gradually gives way to the day.

But over the years being up at this time…while many are still asleep

has given me a wealth of memories I shall forever keep.

Take the other morning for instance…we were a handful of days before Christmas

when, on a cold and silent night…

the sky, though dark, was so clear every star was shining bright.

As I looked up at that magical sky…I was blessed with a wonderful sight

the trees that surround our cabin seemed decorated in star light. 

As I stood there bundled up…it was a mere 16 degrees…

It looked to me like a million fireflies were nestled in the trees.

Legend has it that Martin Luther was walking through the forest

(I’m sure…also trying not to freeze)

when he was struck by the beauty of the stars 

shining though the evergreen trees.

And he created this tradition…

that is still followed by your family and ours

when he brought an evergreen inside for his children

and decorated it with candles to represent the stars.

Standing outside this morning…looking up…I admit I was in awe

as I felt what Martin Luther must have felt…seeing what he saw.

It made me stand there a little longer…trying my best not to freeze

while watching nature prepare for Christmas…by decorating all her trees.

Yes…for years I rise early…as night gently and gradually gives way to day

and with memories like this to greet me…I would’t have it any other way.

They were spotted at the downtown Christmas celebration…

smiling…laughing…singing…filled with joy and jubilation…

Their attention darted from one thing to another

as the empty street they excitedly crisscrossed.

They held hands with one another…so neither would get lost.

The street was awash in Holiday colors.

Store windows decorated in blues, whites, reds and greens

snowmen, Christmas trees, Teddy bears even a life-size Nativity Scene. 

They were mesmerized by the luminaries…and the giant lollipops.

They even said hello to the elves volunteering in Santa’s workshop.

As they watched the sun set over the mountains 

adding to this night all the colors nature can bring….

they paused to watch and listen to a choir of children sing.

As they listened to the sweet voices of the children sing their song

It wasn’t long before they joined the crowd and began to sing along.

They stopped in the ice cream shop… 

they visited the candy store…

excited on this evening at all the wonders to explore.

The evening ended as magical as it began

She took a photo with Mr. And Mrs. Claus

and he…with the gingerbread man.

In case you were wondering…as people often do

She is 73 years old and he is 72.

As we age and mature in life…

It is inevitable we pass through different stages…

but Christmas has…and always will be

for children of all ages.

I am grateful before I ever blow a candle 

or open a present

for being blessed

to take a moment to remember

all the wonders I already possess

May we be blessed to understand 

one of the most beautiful messes we make…

(which in itself is a keepsake)

is the mess we leave around the house 

once we’ve eaten, unwrapped presents and played…

on Christmas Day.

So I suggest after the celebration is over…

before this holiday fades into the past….

that you sit and enjoy the mess a while…

and not clean it up too fast.

The other day we noticed two reindeer leaping around our back yard

As back and forth through the woods they crossed…

they looked upset and a little confused…I got the feeling they were lost.

“Excuse me, Miss Reindeers.” I yelled. “I don’t mean to startle you.

but I was wondering if you’re lost and if so is there anything I can do?”

Hearing my words caused them to freeze…

then one of the reindeer turned her head and stared up through the trees.

“That’s very kind of you.” she answered.  “My name is Donner, this is Blitzen 

We’ve been on vacation and we’ve seem to have lost our way….

“We’re looking for the North Pole…we need to help pull Santa’s sleigh.”

“Is this the North Pole?” She asked. “And why isn’t there any snow?”

“I’m afraid not, Donner.” I answered. 

“This is North Carolina…you still have a long way to go.”

“Oh my.” She said.  “Blitzen and I do get lost quite easily…

It’s why Santa puts us behind all the other reindeer on his sleigh…

He knows we are directionally challenged…

so he lets Dasher, Dancer and Rudolph lead the way.

“Why aren’t the two of you flying back? I asked.

She smiled “That magic is saved for Christmas Eve.

on the one night across the world where everyone believes.”

“Wait here.” I said running into the house and coming out with a map

“You are hear.” I pointed. “Up her is the North Pole…in between is a pretty big gap.”

“Santa!” I pleaded closing my eyes….”If you can hear me I want you to know I believe.”

‘I’ll give Donner and Blitzen this map but they’ll need your help to get home by Christmas Eve."

“Come on Santa…just this once you can change the rules…what do you say?”

With that Donner and Blitzen with map in hooves…smiled and flew away.

“Don’t forget to follow the map!” I shouted feeling blessed to have made a connection

with the only two off Santa’s reindeer born with a poor sense of direction.

Once they were gone I quickly wrote a note to Santa 

and mailed it first class to his North Pole address…

‘Dear Santa’ I wrote, 'how about this Christmas you give Donner and Blitzen

their very own GPS!’

May we be blessed this holiday season…

wherever with friends and family we meet

that echoes of laughter

and joy

and love

make this holiday celebration complete…

Echoes that, to our delight, will linger on

long after our friends and family have gone.

When we cut down this year’s Christmas tree

after finding the one we wanted to keep…

we hoped Violet (our great-granddaughter) would enjoy the moment

but being a newborn she was fast asleep.

Our cut tree is temporary…hewed for but one reason

to help us celebrate and enjoy this year’s Christmas Season.

But this being Violet’s first Christmas

when it comes to the spell over her we were hoping to cast…

we wanted something more permanent

more enduring…something that would last. 

With that in mind it was easy for us to deduce

that along with this year’s Christmas tree

we would purchase a tiny living blue spruce.

What did come as a surprise

is that little blue spruce and Violet 

were practically the same size.

So when we left the Christmas tree farm… 

in our minds this Christmas was set…

as we purchased a tree for our entire family

and one just for Violet

We will celebrate this Christmas together…

our entire family…

and together we will decide…

where to plant Violet’s little tree.

A tree that will grow…as she grows

Where…on the lawn outside our cabin it will always adorn…

So Violet will smile every time she sees it and say,

That’s the tree my family planted

the first Christmas after I was born.