Christmas Through the Eyes of a Babe

Carrot top little lad, eyes like blue and green marbles

rosy cheeks, cutting teeth

binky bopper, the show-stopper

cooing excitement

upon his first holiday season meeting

he crinkles first finds

holiday ornaments

textured just right for tiny fingers

plush reindeer, snowmen, and candy canes

glittery tinsel slips through fingertips

surprise eyes

laughter

his seven month smile

catch the Christmas spirit in first encounters

warranting a redial-

calling us home

to childhood

to simpler days

when over-commercialized, tech dramatic

were not born

when money, money, money

was better saved, not burning holes in pockets

when snowbound boots returned

to home, hearth, and fire-

an ugly sweater, a hot cup of cocoa

gooey topped with marshmallow heapings

equaled quality family time

spent together

and the truth-

the truth

glittered on tree tops

Angels-

altruistic, empathetic

The REAL real

not items bought in a modern dollar store deal

or purchased online

lacking feeling or connection

***

Imagine the babe

unaware of all complexities

dazzled simply being present

no gift, no present on his mind

held shoulder high by his six foot something dad

laughter, lengthening arm reaches

little legs air peddling to door frame fixtures

capturing a dangling elf

a darling boy

his legs ever moving

rides on his dreams with such wonder

his awe inspiration

peddles me back in time

***

Time-

a time when Christmas was an old fashioned halmark

Halmark cards

strung together over doorways

bridged the gap

the distance

family across the pond

arching the back of lookers up

finding togetherness in square booklets

***

Time-

when siblings iced cookies for Santa

my sisters, me, and mum

licking sticky fingers

doting on cookie cutter creations

a star, a stocking, a Christmas tree

none quite like the other

each joyfully decorated

simply for love of the season

Time-

a wood stove warmed living room

hickory, oak; campfire aroma

smoke wafting

drifting among early evening silence

grandpa in his sitting chair

eyes glued to his western story

wearing a red plaid shirt

puffing his pipe

an occasional "hmm" he utters

while dad changes the pan of stove top water

adding more logs

each kindling love of home and family

feeding the fire more

*

Peddling back from memories to the babe

handed to me by his dad

green and blue marble-eyed lad

little carrot top

binky bopper, the showstopper

a seven month old boy

locks eyes with me

seeing-

I see what he sees

and he glows

brighter than any ornament

any treelight, any star

because he knows I know too

the spirit of Christmas

the true spirit

lives inside us all

***

Through the eyes of a babe-

I am reminded

through his innocence

my heart feels aglow

through his first holiday season encounter

I return to simpler days

halmarks, sweet sensations

and an ever burning wood stove fire simmers

keeping memories warm and Christmas spirit

ALIVE

***

Author's note: this poem is dedicated to my seven-month-old grandson Oscar. Seeing the innocent joy on his face and his eyes beaming with such wonder while encountering his first Christmas season has reminded me of simpler times, my childhood, and the importance of treasured memories.

Thanks for reading and may your holiday season be filled with many blessings!