THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ( Nancy Tillman )

I HAD JUST NODDED OFF, AT A QUARTER PAST FOUR,
WHEN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS STEPPED IN THROUGH
MY DOOR,
WITH A GREAT SHOW OF SPARKLES, HE DECKED ALL MY HALLS
IN TINSEL AND TWINKLES AND BRIGHT, SHINING BALLS.
I WAS REALLY QUITE FOND OF THE TRIMMINGS HE'D BROUGHT.
"BUT THERE'S JUST SOMETHING MISSING THIS CHRISTMAS,"
I THOUGHT.
"BELLS!" HE SAID.  "JINGLE BELLS!  BELLS RIGHT AWAY!
BELLS ON A ONE-HORSE GALLOPING SLEIGH!"
"A TOY SOLDIER BAND DRESSED IN MATCHING RED SASHES!"
"CANDY CANE TONGUES AND MARSHMALLOW MUSTACHES!"
"EVERYONE CAROLING SONGS OF GOODWILL. 
SO MERRY THAT EVEN THE TREES CAN'T BE STILL."
I SHOOK MY HEAD.  "YOU ARE REALLY SO KIND.
BUT IT'S JUST NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND."
HE SPOKE TO ME THEN, IN A WHISPER OF WINGS.
"THERE ARE GENTLE THINGS THE SEASON BRINGS."
"SNOW THAT LIES SILENT.  AS QUIET AS A MOUSE.
AND ROADS THAT ALL LEAD TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S
HOUSE."
"TEN LORDS A-LEAPING AS SEVEN SWANS SWIM.
AND OF COURSE, SANTA CLAUS, I'M JUST GETTING TO HIM!"
I LIFTED MY CHIN AND STARED UP AT THE CEILING.
I STILL WASN'T GETTING THAT WARM CHRISTMAS FEELING.
THAT'S WHEN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS SMILED.
"REMEMBER, THIS ALL BEGAN WITH A CHILD.
BECAUSE IT TOOK NOTHING BUT LOVE TO BEGIN IT,
IT'S NOT REALLY CHRISTMAS IF LOVE ISN'T IN IT."
YOUR TREE MAY BE LARGE AS THE ROOM WILL ALLOW
WITH A BIG YELLOW STAR ON THE UPPERMOST BOUGH,
BUT OF ONE THING I'M CERTAIN, I'M SURE OF ONE THING.
IT IS LOVE THAT MAKES THE ANGELS SING.
AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT IT.  THAT'S WHEN I KNEW!
THE THING THAT WAS MISSING FROM CHRISTMAS
WAS YOU!
AND SO THEN, MY DARLING, WHEREVER YOU ROAM,
MAY YOU ALWAYS BE SAFE...MAY YOU ALWAYS COME HOME.
FOR AS LONG AS THE WORLD STILL SPINS AND STILL HUMS,
WHEREVER YOU ARE, AND NO MATTER WHAT COMES,
THE BEST PART OF CHRISTMAS WILL ALWAYS BE...
YOU BENEATH MY CHRISTMAS TREE.