Christmas This Year

I was going to start typing my old Christmas poems in here on Wednesdays for the yuletide season.  Then the election happened, causing half the country to be elated (over what, I'm still not sure) and the other half to be in a blue funk.  With this in mind, the first Christmas poem I'm typing is the one I wrote back in 1994, the year my Dad passed away.

I had a lot of issues with Dad, as I know we all did, but my feelings were real when I wrote this poem, which was actually on Christmas Day of 1994.  Mom was hurting so much, and I myself felt like Dad was starting to mellow a bit as time went on.  Besides, I had never experienced a death like that before.

Christmas This Year

by Gary Van Buren

The family is gathered, everyone is here

But it still doesn't seem like Christmas this year

I see smiling faces full of love and good cheer

But it still doesn't seem like Christmas this year

The air is chilled crisp, the sun still shines bright

And yet we all know that something's not right

The tree twinkles gently like angels in flight

And yet we all know that something's not right

When it's all done

When the songs have all been sung

We'll come to realize

There's still tears in our eyes

          Because you're not here

But we'll muddle through

Even though we still miss you

'Cause we know you've got wings

and you're with the King of Kings

          And we know, in spirit, you're near

Merry Christmas Dad!

(and please tell Jesus Happy Birthday!)