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More poems that could be true
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER
Ever since Matthew was twelve
he’d kept the lighthouse,
Taught by his father who had
lost in death his dear spouse,
For years the two of them worked
all year side by side,
Then one Christmas eve his dear
old father died.
Once a week into town he came,
provisions to buy,
Never seemed to have the chance
to give girls the eye.
He had a cat and a dog, his only
true friends and family.
People said hello as on Sunday
to church all would go.
Years drifted past and Matthew
older started to grow.
Christmas was the worst, especially
when there was a storm,
And his light needed to shine
bright to warn
The ships being tossed and broken
in the cruel sea.
Few visitors came, he longed so
for some company.
Yet something wonderful happened
one Christmas day,
A little child came to visit and
all day wanted to stay.
He shared His simple food,
chatted for awhile
On that special day Matthew learned
how to laugh and smile.
Just once a year the visitor came
to spend an hour or two
With a lonely man who even
let that bright light shine through
On Christmas day when all others were
happy at play,
Many souls were saved because
of that lighthouse ray
Stretching out it’s light so ships
would not stray.
Few, save it were sailors, who cared
very much at all
About Matthew and his lighthouse
And the great value of his
important call.
One Christmas when he was now
very old and grey
And the child came as usual to visit
on Christmas day,
This time he took him by the hand
so he could roam
A little before He took him to
His heavenly home.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson November 4, 2002