Christmas Words Poem by Phil Soar

I lay the presents underneath the tree
when I came down next morning
there was only one for me
small and underwhelming
the size of a small card
I wondered what on earth it was
and tried so very hard
I watched the sheer excitement
at what the family had
there was no real entitlement
nothing to make them sad
I looked down on the envelope
the only thing I had
With only one word on it
That word was simply:
DAD

I watched the wrapping paper
being strewn around the floor
I saw the smiles
I heard the squeals
As they opened more and more
and when the final wrapping dropped
they sat there in a huddle
some were still excited
whilst some just sat and cuddled
and then they turned their faces
they looked at me and stared
I looked down at that envelope
and wondered if they cared

They sat there agitated
like a flock of hungry birds
So I opened up the envelope
And found just random words
What looked like shredded paper
But neatly tucked inside
I read them very patiently
And then broke down and cried

You see,
each family member
had written how they felt
just one word,
but so meaningful
that just made my heart melt
and so my first impressions
had vanished with my tears
These words expressed
with so much zest
about their childhood years

Those words will now be treasured
they mean so much to me
And yet I'd seen that lonely gift
Beneath that Christmas tree
I'll never think of Christmas day
without those paper shreds
with the words of love so tenderly
and lovingly expressed