THE DARKENED HOUSE
There were no lights in Johnny’s house, none at all,
No one ever knocked at the door or gave a happy call,
The only glow that showed any sign of life in there
Was the flames from a small fire and a man on a chair.
Once a week he went shopping and hardly spoke a word,
No one bothered to find out what might have occurred
To send Johnny into his shell and never turn on a light,
Not even at Christmas when all should be merry and bright.
Bobby was a Boy Scout and Johnny was his service project,
He was very quiet, much too quiet to stand up and object,
His parents helped him with a small Christmas pack,
But a certain amount of courage this boy really did lack.
His dad he would come and knock at the old front door
And with him say ‘Merry Christmas” but nothing more,
The door open just a crack they could not see a man within,
But a very quiet voice said, “Please Bobby, do come in”
Don’t look at my face it was burned when I was shot down,
So I don’t like to be seen, he said they felt him give a frown,
He sobbed as he opened the gifts in the Christmas pack,
And he turned on the lights of that humble little shack.
The Master must have sent you to brighten up my life,
For I have been so lonely since I lost my beloved wife,
Last night I prayed that someone would knock on my door,
And for a few moments not be quite so lonely any more.
They invited him to have dinner on Christmas day
And not to worry about the scars so send sorrow away.
Heavenly Father listened to Johnny’s heartfelt prayer,
I just wonder if like the scout you or I would be there.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 24 November 2005