The Christmas Miracle (Poetry)
24th March 2019
The old man lay upon his bed
his mind was far away
those gathered watched his nodding head
uncertain what to say
There were no words to help dispel
the heavy sense of gloom
because there was no way to tell
grim thoughts that filled the room
And so they took it each in turn
to squeeze the old man’s hand
as if by touch they’d somehow learn
so love might understand
the distance that was yawning wide —
too vast and strange to cross
and though they stood so close beside
all felt the ache of loss
His wife of more than sixty years
a son and daughter too
fought with hopelessness and tears
to see the vigil through
’til tiredness claimed them ... one by one
found dozing in their chair
and drifting — sorrow all undone
they slept without a care
Then in the room a golden light
around the bed shone warm
a feather fell — as if from flight
a voice sang sweet and calm
A flicker crossed the old man’s face
from deep within a sigh
a mutter grew to take its place
he opened one dark eye
and squinted at each sleeping soul
so peaceful now — set free
from duty’s tough demanding role
and parting’s agony
He watched as each one moaned and stirred
looked up to catch his gaze
as meaning passed without a word
through warm affection’s haze
Then someone laughed ... which broke the spell
and conversation flowed
the old man never talked so well
the spirit in him glowed
Thus mother, daughter, father, son —
they reminisced a while
oblivious as time ticked on
recounting smile by smile
Until at last a pale dawn slid
thin fingers through the blind
and shadows slunk away and hid
where daylight cannot find
They’d talked and talked the whole night through
each one had had their say
and listened well what they might do
now it was Christmas day
Before the doctors did their rounds
they had the old man dressed
and in a wheelchair through the grounds
he rode into the West ...
*****
It was a miracle they said
no expert could explain
what strength he drew to leave his bed
and overcome the pain
They found him stopped beside the lake
a rapture in his eyes
for Death has caught him wide awake
and ready with goodbyes
his mind was far away
those gathered watched his nodding head
uncertain what to say
There were no words to help dispel
the heavy sense of gloom
because there was no way to tell
grim thoughts that filled the room
And so they took it each in turn
to squeeze the old man’s hand
as if by touch they’d somehow learn
so love might understand
the distance that was yawning wide —
too vast and strange to cross
and though they stood so close beside
all felt the ache of loss
His wife of more than sixty years
a son and daughter too
fought with hopelessness and tears
to see the vigil through
’til tiredness claimed them ... one by one
found dozing in their chair
and drifting — sorrow all undone
they slept without a care
Then in the room a golden light
around the bed shone warm
a feather fell — as if from flight
a voice sang sweet and calm
A flicker crossed the old man’s face
from deep within a sigh
a mutter grew to take its place
he opened one dark eye
and squinted at each sleeping soul
so peaceful now — set free
from duty’s tough demanding role
and parting’s agony
He watched as each one moaned and stirred
looked up to catch his gaze
as meaning passed without a word
through warm affection’s haze
Then someone laughed ... which broke the spell
and conversation flowed
the old man never talked so well
the spirit in him glowed
Thus mother, daughter, father, son —
they reminisced a while
oblivious as time ticked on
recounting smile by smile
Until at last a pale dawn slid
thin fingers through the blind
and shadows slunk away and hid
where daylight cannot find
They’d talked and talked the whole night through
each one had had their say
and listened well what they might do
now it was Christmas day
Before the doctors did their rounds
they had the old man dressed
and in a wheelchair through the grounds
he rode into the West ...
*****
It was a miracle they said
no expert could explain
what strength he drew to leave his bed
and overcome the pain
They found him stopped beside the lake
a rapture in his eyes
for Death has caught him wide awake
and ready with goodbyes