'Christmas cheer <br />is not found here, <br />children, we are too poor. <br />What's left instead, <br />moldy and stale bread, <br />and no fancy wreaths on our door. <br />We'll have no tree <br />but something came to me <br />and it'll cure those blues of yours.' <br />Then Mother took lights, <br />and at tree height, <br />afixed them from ceiling to floor <br />Criss-crossed and V-ed <br />yes, it turned out to be <br />the most beautiful tree evermore... <br />And with that act, <br />I knew for a fact, <br />Mother deserved to be adored! <br /> <br />Then Father came in <br />reeking of his gin <br />looked upon this and was floored! <br />His face ghastly, <br />turned bitter and nasty, <br />Christmas lights from the wall he tore <br />'I'll have none of this! ' <br />and he said with a hiss, <br />'Woman, you are a stupid wh*re.' <br />And he left a mess <br />kinda like us, I guess <br />as we all cried of Christmas's of yore <br />Still, as Mother was blue <br />She said, 'This was meant for you' <br />And the lights went on the wall once more <br />She said, 'Don't hate, <br />Father's anger will abate... <br />He is only sad that we are so poor.' <br /> <br />This happened to be, <br />Christmas of 1983, <br />the saddest of that I am sure. <br />But what I've learned... <br />love given is love returned <br />and happiness is something to fight for.<br /><br />Lee Degnan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/christmas-tears/
