Who's going to root for the other bingo players?
Who's going to offer to buy my card when it's done?
But never mind, despite your sense of direction,
I'm sure you'll have no trouble heading towards the sun.
It wasn't until Christmas of that year,
that was when I started to see a little common sense,
you came around for a chat and a coffee,
although I'll admit, things were still rather tense.
And I?ll never forget our Christmas times,
especially that feeling on Christmas Eve,
Dad with his food, Mom with her vodka
and we went to sleep with a dream to believe.
Her Christmas spaghetti was legendary,
her front bedroom was where I spent my "time out",
she was often strict with me, just to be kind,
she certainly taught me what love is all about.
Even halfway around the world you care for me,
you'll send an e-card or a romantic e-mail,
and I know you have a strong love for me,
and unlike mere words, that love will never fail.
(NAME) was my 18th birthday present from his room-mate,
on the card, it said "too big to wrap, but I know you'll love him",
and the following day I told my parents I would marry (NAME),
and now I can say, 39 glorious years later, that was no teenage whim.
You've both been involved in the South African struggle,
and to many refugees, you've put a roof over their heads,
and together, you've strode forward with such purpose,
you've gone where many a mortal rarely treads.
Because I could always talk to my Gran, open and honestly,
she is a true South African and the best cook I have ever known,
any hour of the day, she always made my favourite of everything,
I'm very grateful for all the love that she's shown.
Seattle was so very special this year,
I really enjoyed being with your family at Christmas time,
I felt the warmth, the love the bond,
and I also felt the reason in this rhyme.
(NAME) got to hear his first R rated word,
Dad used to fix everything, this time it was the brakes,
and then there was the full shaped Christmas tree,
and you should see the lemon meringue pie mother bakes.
The greatest Christmas stocking ever,
was not the one filled with my favourite toy,
instead, it was beautifully filled by you,
and you filled my life with happiness and joy.
Christmas was always my favourite time,
you could feel something special in the air,
and I just want to look back and remember,
because I have a memory to share.
I could go on about Thanksgivings and Christmas's,
evening trips to Thrifty and the best ice cream cones,
but I really want to talk about my parents,
even though Dad doesn?t say much, when anybody phones.
You came into the World during Christmas 2004,
but then literally, you had to take a life flight,
we all had to drive 2 hours to get there,
and that was only the start of a very long night.
And her short bread biscuits were simply to die for,
not to mention her sweet potato and macaroni & cheese,
and I'll never forget the Christmas Mock Crayfish,
the best ever. (Would you like some more? Yes, please!)
By that Fall, they decided to get married,
and dreams do come true on Christmas Eve,
and their close friends and family witnessed it all,
no Santa Claus but their own dream to believe.
I wish you both so much happiness,
and the best of what life has in store,
I wish you plenty of Christmas stockings,
and I wish you love, always and for evermore.
You used to cry so much at Christmas time,
and now those shoes are on our feet instead,
because there's great sadness in our hearts,
and there's still so much left to be said.
Because they were always there for us
and Christmas will never be the same again,
maybe not until we are all once more together,
some day in the future, sometime when.
Actually, we?re very proud of all your achievements,
you were, and still are, an All American girl,
you?ve carried The Olympic Torch, you?ve shone at sports,
and more than once, you?ve given that baton quite a twirl.
I'll never forget the 23 years of Christmas gifts,
and shopping at JC Penney will never again, be the same,
I think I'll wear her favorite green and pink shirt,
I might even wear it to a basketball game.
So, you will continue to be my lifelong companion,
and I know at times, that's going to be pretty hard,
but maybe I'll take you skydiving or parasailing,
maybe I'll even pay for a meal with your library card.
It's at the very core of African culture,
it's the ethos of humanness on planet Earth,
it means feeding a stranger, caring for them,
it's a recognition of every life and it's worth.
Last year I searched so many stores,
in truth, I searched long and hard, high and low,
but I ended up giving you chocolates and a card,
and now there are some things you need to know.
I remember dinner with dad after a little league championship,
I'll never forget him saying "I'm proud of you, son",
and we've had so many great hectic, stressful family times,
but at Thanksgiving and Christmas, how else does dinner get done?.
Because mother ruled the halls and the house,
but father decided teaching was not the right card,
so he started his own painting company,
and that's where he worked so very hard.
african american christmas card
Copyright Allen Jesson :o) 1995-2007
www.agiftofpoetry.com
