What picture paints your mind at once when Christmes time is mentioned?
What mem’ry looms from out the past, of effort well-intentioned?
Stores a-bulge with shopping folk, crowds of cheerful people?
Bells thet echo over town, rung from frosty steeple?
Smell of spruce tree freshly clean, awaiting noisy trimming?
Look on brother’s eager face–with good behavior brimming?
Stamp of snowy feet outside, “Merry Christmas!” shouted?
Stirring carols from the street, and dad from slumber routed?
Loads of cards that cheer us, though the postman’s getting cranky?
Gaily wrapped and ribboned gifts from cedar chest to hanky?
Glow of lights on baubles there, colors flung back dancing?
Santa’s never-failing charm–childhood’s dream enhancing?
Tinsel, holly, mistletoe, icey windows lighted?
Baby sleeping, high-chair-slumped, new toys feeling slighted?
Curve of snow-filled evergreens, synonym for beauty?
Turkey, mince pie, candy, nuts, fruit cake, tutti-frutti?
All these things ere proof enough that people still remember
Christmas for a week or two, the middle of December;
But do we pause end offer thanks for Him whose birth gave reason
To joyful be and celebrate the Happy Christmas season?
Though Chaos reigns in world today, and Hate from battle station
Directs the bloody slaughter there, with nation fighting nation,
Christ’s coming taught us Peace shall rule–a distant time foreseeing,
Keep we our faith, there’s comfort there for every human being.
by Ray Romine Tuesday, December 9, 1941
