Christmas 1986 Poem by Marquita Lawson

The gifts are all wrapped and under the tree
Everyone's sleeping ‘cept Santa and me.
Santa is busy with lots to deliver
And me, well, I'm up ‘cause it makes me shiver
To remember WHY it's a special night
To make serious wishes with all my might
To count my blessings of the year just past
To think up improvements I want to last

Then it happens!
All the commotion seems Unimportant.

There is a world or so I hear
Where land is barren; tables bare.
Families suffer, death rates soar
Few shelters to hide them and what's more
There are no trees with gifts stacked neatly
Babies cry as their mothers sing sweetly.
They have no Santa, no dreams in the night
No knowledge of farming - starvation's their plight.

So, as I ponder on this wondrous Eve
Where this is all going, I can't perceive!
As I rock in my chair, cup of tea warms my hand
I pray I can learn to understand
All the WHY's of the babies cries.

A tear trickles down on my evening of peace
"Remember the babies! " the words never cease.
The gifts are all wrapped and under the tree
Everyone's sleeping... ‘cept me.