About This Collection
The holidays have a way of bringing everything a little closer—family, memories, laughter, faith, empty chairs, old traditions, and the people we wish were still beside us. These poems celebrate the warmth, wonder, humor, and sometimes the heartache that come with the seasons we hold closest to our hearts.
“The Candle” is a true story of a mother who keeps her son close through a quiet Christmas tradition. Each year, by candlelight, she writes him a letter and places it in his stocking—holding onto memories, love, and the hope that somehow, someday, her words will reach him.
The Candle
It was time to light the candle
It was time to rekindle her heart
Her pen and paper beside her
To light the candle was the start
She took out a lighter
To set the wick ablaze
When the glow was on her face
She closed her eyes to pray
Then the memories came
One by one by one
She was so incredibly blessed
To have those memories with her son
She reached for her pen and her paper
To write down her heart
She had so many things to tell him
Tears fell on the paper as she’d start
And as she did every year
She’d place the letter in a special place
In his Christmas stocking
With a smile of a mother’s love on her face
One day she will read them
When the time is right
In the glow of his candle
On a quiet Christmas night
“The Christmas Dance” grew from a childhood memory of an elderly couple whose Christmas had become simple and small, but whose love had not. With a modest tree, a few treasured ornaments, an old record, and each other, they showed that the greatest gift of the season was never under the tree at all—it was the life they had shared and the love that still remained.
The Christmas Dance
He pulled up in the driveway that cold night with the small Christmas tree tied to the roof of the car. His wife was waiting for him at the window. The old car was covered in snow, and exhaust steam poured out the back.
He slowly opened the car door and carefully stepped out into the snow. His head was covered with an old toboggan that seemed too big to fit him and an old coat that was weathered by time. She knew what a chore it must be for him to go and get it, but in all of their sixty-five years together, he had never failed to bring one home.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small knife and cut the strings they had used to secure it. She watched him bring it down off the roof and remembered so many memories of him bringing the tree home.
The tree used to be so big that he could barely get it in the door. This year the tree seemed smaller to her, but she knew his frail body could only carry so much. She would never tell him that. He would always be her manly, strong man.
He carefully hugged it and shook the snow off, then brought it to the front door as she opened it for him. They both grabbed it and sat it in the old metal stand they had for so many years.
He straightened it up and secured it in the stand.
“Better put some water in the stand, Dear,” he said as he began taking off his toboggan and winter gear.
She went into the kitchen and returned with some water for the tree and some steaming hot chocolate for him.
He smiled at her as he took the hot cup. Taking a drink, he wiped his mouth.
During his trip he had been filled with Christmas memories too. There were so many memories of Christmas mornings when their kids were young and all the pandemonium under the tree. He thought back to when his mom and dad were alive and all of those precious days when all the family was together.
She reached to hug him and noticed that there were tears in his eyes.
Looking at the small tree in the stand, he took her wrinkled face in his hands. He closed his eyes and kissed her.
“Merry Christmas, my dear, dear wife. I know the tree is smaller than usual this year. They have gotten so expensive now, and I can only carry so much. I don’t know how many more Christmases we have together, but I realized today that as the years have gone by and the trees have gotten smaller, my love for you has grown inside like a mighty oak.
“You are my gift from God. You always have been. This year it’s just you and me, and that’s okay. That’s enough for me.”
She took his hand and led him to their couch and sat down beside him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and tearfully told him, “Merry Christmas, my love.”
On the couch was a box filled with decorations and old glass ornaments. Bringing the box to her lap, she began going through them. So many held beautiful memories of Christmases past.
She picked out her favorite and, walking over, placed it on the tree. The branch drooped from the weight.
Turning around, she went to their old record player and found their favorite holiday music. She placed the needle on the record. It popped and crackled and started playing.
She held out her hand for him to join her.
After picking out his favorite ornament and putting it on the tree beside hers, he took her hand and they started to dance.
Outside, the snow continued to fall.
And through the window, the silhouette of two people, wrapped in love, could be seen dancing.
Again.
“The Christmas Ornament” is a tender story about love, memory, and one precious moment of connection. As a devoted husband brings familiar ornaments to his wife’s bedside, each one becomes a reminder of the life they shared. Then, for a brief Christmas moment, memory breaks through—and love speaks one more time.
The Christmas Ornament
He stood in front of the mirror
Adjusting his red bow tie
It was finally Christmas morning
And he had that holiday sparkle in his eye
He was going to see his love
To share some memories both old and new
He was already thinking of so many
As he shined and tied his shoes
He splashed on her favorite cologne
Then a final check in the mirror
His heart racing in his chest
As their time together became nearer
The day before he had gone through the old Christmas ornaments
They had always hung so proudly on their tree
They were always a welcome sight
When he’d open that old dusty box to see
He put all the special ones so carefully in a bag
Then placed them in the front seat of his car
It was a very familiar small trip down the road
But the distance between them seemed so very far
He pulled up to her building
Took a deep breath, then put on his smile
Grabbed the bag in his front seat
He knew he was gonna stay for quite a while
He arrived at room 107
Then waited patiently at her door
A nice nurse gave him a smile and a hug
He had been there so many times before
He had decorated her room with festive colors and lights
And now it was time to place the ornaments on her little tree
The staff always enjoyed his decorating
It was a beautiful thing to see
Walking into the room, he saw her
Lying serenely in her bed
The nurses had prettied her up and done her hair
And placed a red ribbon on her head
He took his place at her bedside
Then placed her hand on his face
He whispered in her ear, “I’m here, my darling,”
Then wiped a tear slowly falling down his face
He took out an ornament and put it in her hand
He clasped her fingers around it tight
“Do you remember us getting this one
On that snowy December night?”
One after another he pulled out each treasure
Then placed it in her hand
He reminded her of so many special moments
Then found a good place on her little tree for them to land
He was on the last ornament
The one they had gotten when their son was born
It was always her favorite
Since the first time she hung it on the tree that Christmas morn
Taking the ornament from her hand
He noticed she was holding it tight
He looked at her face
And saw an incredibly lovely sight
Her eyes were open and she was smiling
And she motioned for him to lean in close to hear
She whispered, “I love you so very much
And Merry Christmas, my dear.”
Part of him wanted to run out and find a nurse
But he stayed and looked into her eyes
He could never imagine this could happen
It totally took him by surprise
Then just as suddenly as she looked at him
Her grasp on the ornament was gone
The moment that had lit up the room
Was now over and done
The silence in the room was loud
He couldn’t find the words
How thankful he was to connect with her
They were the most precious words he’d ever heard
He thought to himself, “It’s a Christmas miracle,
Just a moment between her and me.”
Then he stood up and placed the last precious ornament
On her little Christmas tree