A Christmas Poem

Another Christmas and I’m dressed up in plaid,
And feeling quite grouchy and really quite sad.
There is no sign of Christmas, not one I can see.
No holly, no wreaths, and no Christmas tree.

I opened a can. It was spaghetti with meat
No, it was not a good holiday treat
But I ate it I tell you as I sat all alone…
Just can of spaghetti and one strawberry scone.

I turned on the TV and it started hissing
A voice said to me “Do you know what you’re missing?”
In a white robe she appeared on my screen
She said “You are lonely and mean!”

I looked at her and said “Are you talking to me?
Surely you’re not, for plainly you see,
I am eating spaghetti straight out of a can
I have every convenience except a saucepan”

She smiled and looked right into my eyes
“Grab hold of my hand, I have quite a surprise!”
“You’re surely kidding, you’re inside my TV!”
She said “Do what I say and soon you will see.”

I felt like a fool sticking my hand in the screen
But I did it and saw something I’d never seen.
I was floating around with some lady in white
Looking down on a village on a cold Christmas night.

I saw families gathered with smiles on their faces
Dancing by fires in brick fireplaces.
Presents were scattered through all of the houses
Dads with new sweaters and moms with new blouses!

There were smiles everywhere, and you could see all the love
Church bells were ringing! Snow fell from above!
The ground sparkled in white, the snow all a’glisten
The lady in white said “Shhhhh! Be quiet and listen!”

Floating around with a lady in white,
Above a small village on a cold Christmas night
I hear people singing, I could feel all the joy!
In fact I am feeling like a young schoolboy.

“Do you feel the love? Do you hear them all singing?”
The snow kept on falling; the church bells were ringing.
“I do” I answered as we flew over the town,
And I saw nothing but smiles – not one single frown.

She smiled and took me to where I don’t know…
It was a place far away, a place far below,
I saw an old man alone and confused,
He did not look happy, no… not one bit amused!

He was all wrinkled, a pathetic old man
Eating spaghetti with meat right out of a can!
The lady in white said “Tell me what do you see?”
“I see my own future. That old man is me!”

“Now you have seen what the future will be”
“Yes! If I don’t change, that’s what I will be!
She took me back home and I floated no more
I must have been dreaming right there on the floor!

I got up and showered, and put on some new clothes
I opened my door and felt the snow on my nose!
I walked down the street and with a smile on my face
“Merry Christmas” I shouted… all over the place!

I went to my neighbors and shouted “Come over and dine!
I have turkey and pie and some really good wine.
I called my own children – “Come see your old dad!”
I could tell by their voices that they were so glad.

That evening we gathered for a big Christmas feast
The bread was amazing, it was pumped with the yeast.
The turkey was tender and the pie was supreme –
My  family together, it seemed like a dream.

And perhaps we should think… lest we end up alone
Eating spaghetti with meat and an old stale scone.
It’s never too late to make everything right
And what time is there…

Than on this Christmas night?

Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year!