I DO not care to wait until the hand of death has smoothed your brow <br />Before I say what's in my heart, I'd rather tell it to you now. <br />I'd rather say: 'How glad I am to know your cheery voice and smile,' <br />Than stand and say 'how glad I was' in some grief-stricken after-while. <br />I'd rather shout: 'how good you are!' than sniffle out: 'how good was he!' <br />And so I take this Christmas Day to say you have a friend in me. <br /> <br />And so I take this Christmas Day to wish you everything that's fine, <br />A cloudless sky for every day, a path where roses bloom and twine; <br />May sorrow never find your door, but if it shall and leave you dumb, <br />May to your wounds of grief the balm of consolation quickly come. <br />May all the best of life be yours, and may, no matter where you roam, <br />Good luck and gladness go with you, and smiling, bring you safely home. <br /> <br />If wishing only banished care you'd never more have cause to sigh, <br />If wishing drove the clouds away henceforth the blue would fill your sky. <br />The pink of health would bloom upon the cheeks of those you love for aye, <br />And every day God gives to you would be a merry Christmas Day. <br />I'd wish you everything that's good, I'd wish you everything that's fine, <br />And then I'd still be in your debt, oh good and faithful friend of mine.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/christmas-greeting-2/
