Christmas Poetry Contest Semi-Finalists

It's Christmas time,
And I wish you well.
May the Lord bless you
With the best of health.

I hope the stockings are hung
And you're filled with wonder.
There are so many surprises
For you to ponder.

May your children be merry
When Santa brings toys.
Some for the girls
And some for the boys.

I pray you have food
And plenty to eat:
Turkey and gravy
And lots of sweets.

I hope your family's there,
Friends and neighbors, too.
So merry Christmas
From all of us to all of you.

I wish I could go back to the past,
of Christmases long ago.
I wish I could see my loved ones
who have passed on long ago.

I'd love to be that child again
who sat on Santa's knee.
Yes, all these memories that I have
decorating the tree.
   
I wish I could wake Christmas morn
to see Daddy baking ham.
And to see my mamma making her yummy
famous candy yams.

I wish I could go to Grandma's house;
her cookies were the best.
The pies and cakes that she would bake,
she kept them in a chest.

Her house would smell like ginger,
with a hint of Balsam Pine.
She'd decorate the house with lights,
and it would surely shine.

All these Christmas memories,
it seems like yesteryear.
I'd love to go back to the past.
This is my Christmas prayer.

I went to church on Christmas morn to hear the angels sing.
My heart was lifted with every chorus; the rafters, they did ring.
I sang along with joy in my heart, the greatest sound I've ever heard.
From "O Holy Night" to "What Child is This?" I cherished every word.

I celebrated the King's lowly birth; I shouted and danced about.
Then came along a "Little Drummer Boy," and I knew I was without.
What had I given the babe this year? A panic crossed my mind.
I tried to think of what I had given, but there was none to find.

Did I find a child and clothe him well? Did I seek a widow to bless?
Did I go to someone sick in their bed and try to ease their death?
Did I ask a sinner to say a prayer or tell him the Good News?
Did I give a beggar something to eat or at least buy him some shoes?

I bowed my head as the drummer boy played; my tears started to fall.
I didn't even give Him my best, let alone give Him my all.
So this Christmas, Jesus, I bring you my drum, the very beat of my heart.
I ask Your forgiveness, for things undone; it's the only place I can start.

Christmas is a happy time for friends and family,
The children are excited as they unwrap presents around the tree.

Carols are sung and lights twinkle in the night.
Jack Frost glistens on the windows, and the snow sparkles from the winter moonlight.

Christmas is such a joyous time to appreciate the ones we love.
This Christmas I want to send wishes to those we lost up above.

To some, Christmas is not the same because a loved one passed away,
And the grief is overwhelming each and every day.

When the holidays approach, we miss them even more,
Traditions never feel the same, and memories are all we have left to adore.

We will always remember their name and never forget their faces,
And as long as we keep them in our hearts, they can never be erased.

So this Christmas, my wish is for everyone who is feeling a little blue
To find some peace, joy, and comfort with everything you do.

Christmas isn't just a season; it's a feeling, and the magic never ends.
One of its greatest gifts is to cherish family and friends.

Merry Christmas to all our special angels up above.
Merry Christmas to you all. I send you all my love.

Christmas Past, Present & Future....

Present

Each morning as I lie awake,
I pray my soul the Lord to take.
For memories are far too deep
to pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Good memories when you were here
to fill us all with Christmas cheer,
but God above was all alone
and took you for his very own.

And though we know that you are near,
each Christmas we are filled with fear.
How will we cope without you there?
We're left staring at an empty chair.

Past

But cope we do - we all survive
We remember when you were alive,
knelt down by the glistening tree,
shaking presents trying to see.

On Christmas morn you'd wake to find
those presents Santa left behind.
These memories all bring a tear
for you held Christmas time so dear.

Future

And now five Christmases unwind.
Our memories are all enshrined,
for in our hearts you'll always be
until God comes to set us free.

Then we can be together again.
Forget heartache - forget the pain,
but now until our time is due,
Merry Christmas, we love you!

My childhood Christmas memories always make me smile.
I'll often drift to long ago and stay there for a while.
Remember singing carols long before the date?
Of counting days from Halloween, I really couldn't wait.
Recalling cherished carefree times that advent used to bring.
The infant class nativity, the songs we used to sing.
The being good, the secret smiles when making Christmas wishes,
The showing off to Santa by drying up the dishes.
"Eat your food, the elves are watching" was often said to me,
And though I'd quickly turn my head I never got to see,
And it always snowed at Christmas, least that's what I recall.
Standing by the fireside glow, watching the snowflakes fall,
I well recall the bustling shops, not frenzied like today.
The kindly smiles and gestures that set you on your way,
I crave the smells, and seasonal sights, the tastes that were sublime,
The long gone folk who touched our lives so much at Christmas time.
The sleepless nights on Christmas Eve, a mix of joy and fear,
While listening out for Santa Claus (I heard him every year),
And sleep might come eventually, though fitful if at all.
Then up I'd jump on Christmas Day, the greatest time of all,
Waking up the family to see if he had been,
Closing eyes and walking in to see the festive scene,
Running to a pile of gifts, "I can't believe my eyes."
"How did you know I wanted that?" and "What a great surprise!"

And then one year the magic did not seem to be as strong.
To believe in Father Christmas was childish and quite wrong,
So I never heard his sleigh bells on Christmas Eve again,
Nor saw snow at Christmas, just wind and sleet and rain.
And so it was for many years, my childhood Christmas gone.
Grown up responsibilities was the order from now on,
Until that is the greatest gift, a child to call my own.
Her Christmas Eve excitement by me was so well-known,
And as I kissed her goodnight last year and closed the door,
I swear I heard his sleigh bells upon the roof once more.

Five more days till Christmas.
Santa and his crew
were working overtime making
children's dreams come true.

Singing carols, whistling tunes,
as the hours ticked away,
except for little Edison,
the elf that went astray.

Instead of making toys
in Santa's assembly line,
he was hanging out with Rudolph
beneath the snow capped pines.

As Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus took
a look around,
they noticed lazy Edison
was nowhere to be found.

They decided they'd had enough;
this elf will surely be fired.
Scratched their heads and
realized another must be hired.

Dasher heard them talking
and thought this can't be so.
Never in elf's history has
someone had to go.

He searched the winter wonderland,
and under the Northern Lights
Edison and Rudolph were
frolicking in flight.

He said, "Come down from there;
your behavior's a disgrace.
Christmas Eve is almost here and
you're about to be replaced."

Edison soon realized his days
of slacking were done,
that there'd be consequences
for goofing off and having fun.

He knew he had no place to go
if Santa didn't let him stay.
His heart began to pound
as Rudolph ran away.

He hurried as fast as he could
to tell Santa he was wrong,
beg him for forgiveness
and show him he belonged.

As the other elves were caroling,
he tried to sneak inside,
but Santa saw him coming out of the
corner of his eye.

He placed his hands upon his hips
and firmly shook his head,
"What shall I do with you,
my elf?" Santa firmly said.

"I see you when you're sleeping.
I know when you're awake.
Did you not read your history book?"
he said for goodness sake!

Santa soon forgave him 'cause
his heart is made of gold,
and Edison became the
hardest worker I am told.

The moral of this story is
we all must do our part,
and jolly old St. Nick has always
had a heart.

Merry Christmas to all of you
on this holiest of days.
May all your dreams come true
as you gather and celebrate.

Rows of houses blanketed with snow.
Christmas lights lucent and aglow.
A reindeer, a sleigh, like artwork on display.
Stories unraveling, brass bells ringing,
Smiles and laughter and joyful singing.
Come, gather 'round the table tonight!

Cold is the winter.
Warm is the fire.
Blessings, good tidings to all of your days.

'Tis the season to celebrate!
Sheath your swords of anger and hate.
A candle, a wish, the flickering of a flame,
Love everlasting, love never ceasing,
Peace and rest to ease our breathing.
Come, gather 'round the table tonight!

Cold is the winter.
Warm is the fire.
Blessings, good tidings to all of your days.