A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
No snow fell that Christmas eve, Pa said it was too cold,
We’d gathered the sheep together secured then in the fold,
All other beasts were in the barn we were frozen through,
The whole family worked very hard the whole day through.
The kitchen fire was out, we’d all worded outside that day
For we knew that really bad weather was coming our way,
Someone lit the oil lamps and someone else set the fire,
The boys gathered more logs and the man we did hire.
Ma cooked a meal as soon as the fire blazed hot and bright,
All crouched around for warmth and longed for the sight
Of the meal that we had waited for all that cold long day,
We knew Ma wouldn’t let us down, what would come our way?
Little Beth played the old piano that belonged to dear gran,
We joined in singing the carols as soon as the music began,
We could hear Ma and Sally in the kitchen singing along,
Now all we had was safe and sound nothing could go wrong.
Pork chops and stuffing lots of good vegies and an apple pie,
It was as though the women had brought the food out of the sky,
Christmas day did not matter, this Christmas eve was a sufficient gift
To give to a happy farming family a well deserved and needed lift.
I’ll not tell you if Santa came, that does not matter really at all,
But those tired happy faces were close to heaven, hear angels call
To those early shepherds all those years in Bethlehem long ago.
And felt the Saviour near them in a humble home we’ll never know.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 13 May 2005