THE OPTIMIST
Mama was an optimist always saw the bright side,
Especially at Christmas when poverty was hard to hide,
Out came the old decorations and new ones hand made
From scraps of this and that, ingenuity our greatest aid.
Bells made from medicine cups covered with some foil,
Many Monday evenings the family together did toil
Making decoration to place on the tattered old tree,
No one seemed to mind that it was ancient as could be.
Dad could make toys from little pieces and wood
An empty tangerine box from the local store would
Turn into a toy or two, a spice rack, pretty as could be,
This family worked together in great love and harmony.
One year the eldest got a job, dad had a nice raise
Extra food for Christmas brought grateful praise,
Most of us would still think poor they still would be
Yet in this home, small blessings filled them with jollity.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 17 May 2005