Thanksgiving On Christmas Day! Poem by Denis Martindale

Each year for over a decade, in which I lived alone,
My Christmas joy begins to fade when I wake on my own,
Few Christmas cards had I received, few tokens of respect,
No wonder part of me still grieved at thoughts of such neglect.
And while fatigued, I still arose, for coffee once again,
To face the day God only knows and quite beyond my ken.
The silent house, the empty rooms, the kitchen cold as ice,
Another day one first assumes, and hardly Paradise.
I drink the coffee and reflect on those who passed away,
Nobody here who could direct the hours left this day.
With not one cook or feast at hand, no presents by a tree,
Just this old guy with nothing planned, yes, that old guy was me.
A Christmas card arrived on cue as such a timely treat
From one guy that I barely knew who lived across the street.
And soon a knock upon the door with one boy bringing gifts,
My heart arose from off the floor as one whose spirit lifts.
We spoke a while, then had to laugh, then we shook hands as well,
I got some gloves, a tartan scarf, so things were going swell.
I'm not as lonely as I was and loved my chocolates, too.
So here's to a Merry Christmas! God bless me and bless you!