The Lone Christmas Bulb (For Jacob)

Today the house was quiet  the day, just dragging by
depression had filled me up until I often wanted to die
Just as I thought to go to bed and hide the day away
My brother called to ask me to watch the kids today

The kids arrived in a frenzy, I thought "what have I done"
But my nephew paused to look at me, leaned over and kissed me once
My niece took his hand and led him to the living room
to watch Christmas stories while they played and sang tunes

Suddenly she ran up to me, leaning close to my ear
"You've no Christmas tree,  Santa won't come this year"
I'd given the large tree away and hundreds of ornaments too
But I had a small one in the garage that I thought I could still use

I dragged the little tree in, where to put it, I didn't know
my niece dragged in a TV tray "Look aunt T, here we go"
I had one box of ornaments left, mostly old sentimental ones
My nephew dug through the box. It’s the Christmas bulb he wants

I strung the lights and watched in amazement as he worked
he took each ornament in his hand  studied it and carefully hung it up
I'd hand him the lone Christmas bulb but he'd put it right back down
my niece and I just watched him while he moved all around

We thought the ornaments were hung but there was just one more
My nephew had the Christmas bulb, It was full of snow and a rose
He carried that bulb so tenderly and placed it into my hand
Tears sprung into my eyes as I watched this tiny little man

He looked me in the eye and kissed me softly on the cheek
then said to me so softly "you put it on the tree"
I burst into to tears as I hung it, my nephew wrapped around my leg
He hardly speaks, he's barely here, but today was my lucky day

I bought that Christmas bulb the year that he was born
He rode in the cart and held it as we shopped and brought it home
I think he somehow knew it and just wanted me to see
that even if he's locked away he still remembers me

I know I'll never forget again to put up the Christmas tree
as long as that bulb remains, hope shall live inside of me