sycamore christmas

Sycamore Christmas

Christmas is stealing into the house

Slipping satin-toed ‘round frosty panes

Sliding on to the murmuring bayberry hearth

There entreating the embers to flames

And the belly-bowed balls of scarlet and plum

Are chanting from tinsel-downe beds

Joined by whispering angels and drummers and deer

And apple-cheeked children on sleds:

Let it come! Let it come!

Let the holly be hung!

Let the garland appear on the stairs!

Let the table be spread—

Dressed in green, blue, and red—

And let candles cast gold on the chairs.

Let the tree reach on high—

Take a star from the sky

For its crown, and let ribbons be tied

To cascade from its arms

Decked in bells, bows, and charms,

And let fancy and lace trim each side.

Then let carols be sweet—

Sung at home, in the street,

‘Round the fire—for it’s Heaven we savor

As children; and then, let us kneel once again

Full of love for Jesus, our Savior.

-JoanneA

1991

(edit-2012)