It's been a few years since I posted this, as a lot has happened since I first wrote my little missive. A relocation across the country nearly six years ago, combined with many personal and family changes, relatives passing, marriages, and most importantly, My little Minion hitting her adolescence a couple years early. Also, now instead of the main character of this poem being a seasonal visitor to the river side family home my family lives in, the geese in this area live year-round. Many a day, my drives have been delayed as a couple of big honkers will troll nonchalantly across a couple lanes of traffic, literally owning the road for a few minutes, it's akin to cows in India, you can't really do much more than just wait patiently while they strut like the bedasses they are to us mere humans...
I wrote this poem in December of 2007 on the spur of the moment, and had originally decided that it would be an annual event to post, much like Seth Davis' live tweeting of NBC's showing of "It's a Wonderful Life."
I send this out to everyone of my friends and family, as well as those relatives who are scattered across this country, especially My cousins Maya Cameron-Houston and Rima Cameron-Shemick, their spouses George Houston and Laura Shemick, their kids, Celia, Paulie and Sabina (Beanie) Houston, and Cameron and Charlie Bowser.
Let's Hope for a better 2019...
Christmas In Montebello, or A Visit from the Christmas Geese
'Twas the day before Christmas,
And all through the town,
People were shopping and running around.
Last-minute gifts were purchased with haste,
Not wanting a moment to go to waste.
And around our little home, Mom was finishing up,
Wrapping the presents and gifts and stuff.
Dad was busy, getting many things done,
Prepping for their El Paso trip, still yet to come.
And Tommy, My brother, stopped in for a bit,
Taking a break from his work because he saw fit.
And Myself, what did I do, you say?
I waited for sundown to come this way.
For still to be finished were the lights 'round the big tree,
Putting the final touches for all to drive by and see.
The full moon, how it glowed brightly on the river below,
shimmering as the Canadian geese honked and glided along, oh so slow.
The cars slowed down as they drove through the night,
Looking in awe as I made things right.
And Out on the lawn I gave out a shout,
"Mom, Dad, Tommy, You gotta come out!"
My family came running, thinking something's gone wrong,
But what they found was Me dancing and singing a song.
They watched as I danced and placed the last of the lights,
My breath easily seen on this cold winter's night.
"What's wrong?" said Dad "You give us a fright."
Mom just looked and laughed as I continued my flight.
Tommy looked down, embarrassed to see,
How graceful a quarter-ton Hippo like me could be. (I kid, I'm not THAT big)
When, from the spreading grounds, there came an incredible sound,
As gaggles of geese made landings all around.
We listened and watched as they crossed through the moon,
Their wings, opened wide, their calls all in tune.
Below them, their cousins answered their call,
As they glided onto the water, to come together one and all.
We stood there, all quiet, on the bank above,
Watching as Nature played a Winter song of love.
But, before long, it was time to go inside,
After all, none of us really had a winter-proof hide.
So we gathered round a burning Yule Log,
And listened as the Geese scared off the fog.
And so, let Me say, as I crawl under the sheets.
"Merry Christmas to all, but beware of cold feet."
Merry Christmas everyone, from Me and the family.
Please enjoy A Currier & Ives Christmas
No comments:
Post a Comment