The Essence Of Christmas
Mother cruised the Christmas shelves
Tight-packed with expensive toys.
Every possible gift was there
For hopeful girls and boys.
A large selection of dolls sat proud,
Each face begging procurement.
She fingered tags, compared the costs,
And resisted their allurement.
Across the shelf my mom progressed
From exotic to the lowly.
Periodically her purse was checked
And contents counted slowly.
Lovingly a simple doll was chosen,
Her finger caressed it slow.
Last Christmas’ paper wrapped it up
Secured with last year’s bow.
The present joined the other two
Beneath our table-tree.
One was Dad’s and one was Mom’s,
The third was meant for me.
My lovely Jenny helped me contend
With life’s adversities.
We shared good times and the sad,
And treasured memories.
Irrevocably time continued
And removed my family.
But Jenny smiles on my bedroom shelf
And beams their love at me.
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The Tiny Table
The tiny table was set for four.
Three guests were seated there,
as Mary Anne prepared to serve,
she asked each one to share.
“One lump or two, Mr. Teddy Bear,
I did not hear you say.”
So smiling sweetly she edged him
a little closer to the tray.
Mister Bear sat plump and still
upon his wooden chair.
Two glassy eyes looked out upon
the feast of cookie-fare.
The elegant stiff ceramic doll
was next to be attended.
“And for you, your dainty ladyship,
at tea that is pretended?”
The plastic face stared straight ahead
showing she did not hear.
“That’s okay; I’ll stir your cup
and place it over here.”
Turning to the Jenny Jane
she stroked the woollen hair.
“I hope the ribbon’s not too tight
to hold you in your chair.”
The head flopped gently to the side
and brown braids tumbled down
where tiny flecks on cotton cheeks;
Red lips no threaded frown.
“Mommy gave us lots to eat.
These cookies are oatmeal.
Chocolate-chip are over here
and not too far to feel.”
When Mary Anne left the room
upon her mother’s call,
The Jenny Jane sat angry rigid
and scolded one and all.
“You could appreciate her love
and show civility.
Our owner tries her very best
to create a family.
“No younger sister does she have
to share her tiny secrets.
No bossy brother around the house,
and she can’t have pets.
“We three are all she has
when dreary days are long,
or family scolding carries on
and misinterprets wrong.
“When she cries silently at night,
who does she gather round
to hear her tiny aspirations
as we muffle sound?”
As Jenny Jane fought back her tears
in case her cloth got wet,
the other two saw how upset she was
and began to feel regret.
Teddy Bear’s sewn mouth drooped down.
He wiped his glassy eyes.
“I did not mean to be unkind.
My actions were unwise.”
The plastic doll was contrite,
“I may be hard outside,
with plastic arms and staring straight,
but my heart is soft inside.
I truly wish I could partake
as if I were alive
to share the cookies on our plates
like a little girl of five.”
Three dolls sat up and smiled
as much as they were able
when Mary Ann came through the door.
It was quiet round the table
The afternoon banquet continued
with every bite a savour.
The dolls ensured they were on
their very best behaviour.
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