The year was Nineteen Eighty Three;
It was late into December.
The snow lay thick upon the trees;
Those things I can remember.
Its been twenty long years since then
And death is one step nearer.
My mind’s not what it once had been
But on this I can’t be clearer.
Christmas time was nearing fast,
The stores a hum with bustle,
And I with shopping left till last
Was caught up in the hustle.
I’d passed the child not once, but twice,
Though never paid her heed.
I grumbled, haggled o’re a price
Of some forgotten need.
I quickly chose my purchases
Made swiftly towards the door.
Arms a load with packages
I hurried out the store.
‘Twas then I heard the tiny voice
So faint above the noise;
I turned to see the little girl,
There, lost among the toys.
Please Mister can you spare some change
She said, then softly paused,
You see, my brother still believes
There is a Santa Claus.
My father’s out of work again
His factory’s been closed down
And mom, God rest her soul’s now been
Three years beneath the ground.
I wouldn’t ask but Tommy, he,
Has been real sick you see
And we’ve no money left to put
One gift beneath our tree.
I looked into her eyes of blue
Now brimming wet with tears
And thought of all the money I
Had wasted through the years.
I pondered all the gifts I’d bought
For people with no need
And all the things I’d had to have,
Fueled by my selfish greed.
I tried to make excuses
But my mind gave way to reason;
It was then I finally understood
The meaning of the season.
I bought the toy store out that year
For kids I didn’t know.
I emptied all the shelves inside
And cleared the store window.
Oh yes, how I remember well
That Christmas full of giving
When I, a man of Sixty-five,
Finally started living.
Copyright Ruth Kephart
Author notes
Option: Song inspiration #3
The Christmas Shoes
Written November 30th, 2005
A contest entry
- Christmas Time Has Come by gothicchildren05.
525 points, ended January 9, 2007, 17 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - ♦~♦~♦~ Christmas Cheer - #1 {Anything Goes} ~♦~♦~♦ by Rebekah-Ann.
525 points, ended January 8, 2008, 20 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - TEN THOUSAND POINTS OF RHYME! (now 12,000) by cricketjeff.
1850 points, ended December 4, 2007, 31 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Its Christmas Time In The City (( Hoilday Prompts;; MANY )) by HereComesTheSun.
550 points, ended December 25, 2008, 13 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 34 of 34
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wow this was amazing
i love how you wrote a different version of the song
overall a breathtaking piece
wow
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Congratulations on your trophy, a well deserved win.
We look forward to seeing you in the next round and subsequent rounds of our contest.
Thank you for your entry...Sue and Jeff
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That was really good. Great job and good luck in the contest ^_^
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Goodness! this was really a very well written and very worthy of that Gold trophy! Thank you for entering my competition! Hope you enjoy reading with me
All the best in this and also the other contests.
Becks
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This is a beautifully touching write and certainly a gold winner. Very lovely. Take care and have fun. Steve
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awww, this somewhat reminds me of that song "Christmas Shoes". it's good that he finally started to realize the meaning of the season and did something for others for once instead of himself. this is a really enjoyable write. thank you for entering and good luck.
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Thank you so much for your comment
Ruth
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good job
Cute and clever, and it makes the point perfectly without preaching (which I abhor more than anything). I'm glad you know how to write a positive poem. Good job. Thanks for entering, and good luck in the contest. -
This is anothr keeper...to tell the grandkids around the tree on christmas Eve. Well done, my friend.
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This is so beautiful and touching,tear jerking,such a loving and giving sentiment,just a beautiful christmas story,great job
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What a beautiful poem. It is so true of this time of year - most of us get so wrapped up in the 'buying' we forget to spend time truly giving.
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really such a sweet story poem Ruth...I was so wrapped up in it and will come back to read it again. It has such a sense of Christmas and giving that's never to be forgotten. very beautiful sentiment and poem!
Jo -
Old fashioned Christmas
An excellent rhyme. A sentimental poem that is apt for the season. I could be a scrooge and argue the point about buying out the store to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas-but, hell, its Christmas! -
Was here before. Sorry to click again.
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I absolutely adored this poem. I had goosebumps from beginning to finish. I have reached a point in my life where I find this sentiment to be very healing. Bravo my friend for capturing such emotion in this peice, I honestly offer you my biggest KUDOS!!!
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Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful. In a time when Christmas has become nothing more than a giant commercial, you manage to show us that there is still beauty left in it.
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I'm glad Christmas found you
O my goodness....for me, a person who talks non-stop, I am at lost for words...there should be more people like you around. I'm happy you've finally found the true meaning of Chrrsitmas, some people think that it's all about how many gifts they have under the tree or how many gifts they will get..but think about those who doesn't even have a christmas tree...imagine how many kids are out there who wish that someone would take them and give them a warm bed..that would make their Christmas...I'm so in love with this poem.... -
Awesome! The rhyming and flow are perfect as always, and I adore poems with morals.
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A treasured poem for times to come. Showing excellence in its form and message. Merry Christmas Gal.
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Ruth this truly is one of the most moving poems that i have read on this site.It has that Victorian feel about it they seemed to do poem of gut wrenching themes so well I have to say that this is up there with the best.
It saddens me to think that some may think they are being scammed.If that was the case it still would not take away the good feeling that the giver felt.And in the end that was what its all about. The feeling that you have made a difference. Wonderful work Ruth a pleasure to read as ever Thank you -
Ruth This is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the entry.
Hugs
Jan -
This is absolutely wonderful! It brought tears to my eyes! Good luck to you!
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Awwww, this is such a sweet Christmas poem.
It reminds me of the song, "The Christmas Shoes"...I can't remember who sings that. But anyway, this is very touching.
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Seeing an awesome smile on a lil' child's face is a real Christmas gift.
This poem is superb, beautiful, touching, and tender.
It almost made me cry.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes, Nano -
I need nothing. I enjoy giving only. Your poem though was a wonderful gift for me to read. You are a wonderful poet Ruth and I do enjoy you, Legend and a few more tremendously.
Your friend,
Jim
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WONDERFUL POEM
This was a wonderful Christmas poem. It was all about how Christmas should be. Giving. Thank you for sharing and getting me in the holiday spirit. Take care, Sandy
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This is a real tear jerker, for me anyway, as you have cacptured what Christmas should be about. This tears at the heart and you have written this so well. Enjoiyed this very much. Keep writing.
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Thanks, I think you helped us out that year. Actually no, you didn't but we have been helped many years with buying Christmas gifts. The kids are really good kids and they deserve the world, and you helped give it. Thank you.
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This is beautiful in itself...it's own backgroud is the true meaning of giving. I was so blessed by this gorgeous write. Stunning work.
Best wishes to you in the contest.
Sam
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I love the sentiment in this, especially the last verse. A very nice story. I think people are very suspicious these days and use it as an excuse not to help.
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I guess I'm gonna sound like a cold-heated bastard, but there are charities to help those kids, and there was also a chance in this case that the man was taken in by a hustler. But that being said, Christmas is the time for giving, and there's nothing that shows human decency more than kindness to a stranger. 'Course, I would still worry about getting scammed, but the man did a great thing, and I'll leave it at that. Merry Christmas, Ruth! Oh, and, uh, by the way . . . this is a damn good poem!
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very well done
if only ther were more ppl like u! that is such a sweet poem! i absolutly lovd it! and the message is awesome!
i love the form u chose too!
very well written, and thought out!!
mushy -
wow the is wonderful...i love it....
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this is a beautiful, heartfelt write indeed ruth the flow and rhyme was very well done
love and light
blaze
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