Gifts: A Christmas Poem

I wrote this Christmas poem back in 1998, when Tickle Me Elmo and Furbies were all the rage (and in the news now as well, but for different reasons).  This is one of my earliest Christmas poems, and like "Recipe for Christmas", it's still a favorite:

Gifts

                                                                                              by 

                                                                                             Gary Van Buren

A poem handwritten

A cute furry kitten

A Cabbage Patch, Elmo, or Furby doll

Italian furniture

A makeover/manicure

Freedom, liberty, and justice for all

A Christmas wreath

My two front teeth

A Dreamhouse for Barbie and Ken

A baby rattle

A ping-pong paddle

Peace and goodwill to men

A PC CD-ROM

An interoffice intercom

Comic books and a baseball glove

Five golden rings

My favorite things

Family, friends, faith, hope, and love

Novels, CD's, and tapes

Sheets, pillows, and drapes

And hope for a bright tomorrow

A turtledove

Things made with love

Understanding in times of sorrow

Expensive things

Like diamond rings

A house, theater tickets, or a car

The twinkling light

In Jesus' sight

Shining bright from the Bethlehem Star

Perfume and make-up

Clothes that take up

All of the room in your closet

Toys overpriced

Faith in Christ

And the events in our lives that cause it

A hoop and basketball

Extra Strength Tylenol

Movies or a new fishing rod

A video game

Fortune and Fame

The breath of life from God

A tall evergreen

A nativity scene

And just way too much merchandise

But the best gift of all

Is our save from the fall;

The miracle of God's sacrifice

Thank you for the gift, Jesus

Happy Birthday

Christmas 1998