Holidays Far and Away - with audio

audio link

The glowing red embers were dying away
As the young girl drove off after evening prayers,
With chestnuts, hot tea and short bread cookies
Roasting in the still, bright fires of her mind

The host was gone to bed after offering
The young traveler the dainties of a cozy guest chamber
Her goodnight flew down the stairs
Like a stocking filled with candy

Her thoughts were aflame, filled with snaps of
Images and the ribbon of feelings from her past
Tidings of family, friends and all the persons
Whom she had known and loved over the years

The old clock like one whose mind could not be made up,
Pointed decisively first this way, then again that way
With it's long brass arm and disk, until the rhythmic
Telling became the subtle heartbeat of silent thoughts

The old folks, Nellie and Lynus, lay in slumber
Visioning a more peaceful time and day, like a silent film
Of flowers and the waving of wheat, within which
One might view the embodied freedom of their souls

Kindred distanced from us by time and space
Swirled into dreams with a kaleidoscope of happy memories
The angels marveled at how softly each breath was taken
The fluttering of eyelashes, soft chuckles and rosy complexions

The Eternal One was working miracles this night
Across town, the young miss arrived home,
Took off her shoes and was quickly into her sleeping gown
Then hopping into bed she bade the house pets to join her

After reading a few verses of Edna St. Vincent Millay
To all the curious eyes and pointed ears on the bed
A  ponderous sigh expressed itself on her countenance
While escaping from deep within her gentle frame

Life, she thought, how wonderful and mysterious
As the enchantment of midnight overcame the day's excitement
The girl could no longer feel the room's cold air about her
Only her little friends and the stars above were aware of her quiet smile

The green leather sofa murmured from beneath his form
As the bell in the old clock called the young traveler's name
Sleepy burning coals hissed, sputtered and tap-danced a kindly lullaby
Faintly hinting of the hearth's earlier fire outlined by the room's darkness

Thus, Christmas eve, passed into one with Christmas day
The angels in Heaven rejoiced while the hilltops
Changed from the shadows of night to the pinks of dawn
And merry became the sun's rising as the birds sang with our spirits

So shall peace remain in our hearts and thoughts beyond the fullness of time
We rejoice and give thanks, because the Almighty one has seen to all this,
Awakened his creation once more this day, wrought wondrous things,
And even now continues to bind all things together in the Messiah's love.