When Santa Claus was 21, December 24th His father bade him to the sleigh, the two of them set forth In case you didn’t know it, Santa’s pass from dad to son So this young man was destined to, become the 41 The tenure of each Santa Claus, is 50 long hard years Santa’s […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: My Greatest Christmas (A Very Short Story and an Open Letter To My Mother Dorothy 2/21/1924 – 12/24/2008)
As I sat by her bedside, my Mother lay quietly. She was breathing the last of her allotted breaths here on Earth. My mind wandered back to my childhood, trying to make sense of it all. I thought back to Christmas Eves gone by. Christmas always brings my Mother to the front and center of […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Images of Christmas
(For my Mom Dorothy Burkhart, who made Christmas real to me.) No matter what you may believe, or not believe is real The story of Nativity, reveals our best ideals The Wisdom of the Magi and, the Innocence of child The gift of our Salvation, and the dream of Mercy mild The Miracle of virgin […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: A Christmas Crush
Entertaining company, and rushing to the mall Writing cards and baking pies; there’s lighting to install The many things for us to do, can leave us overwhelmed It seems our ship will run aground, without us at the helm So try to keep the goal in sight, remembering just why We make the extra effort, […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Ernie the Elf
Ernie the Elf was a grumpy old soul, all the stockings he hung always filled up with coal As he worked building toys with the elves in his guild, and he hammered and screwed and he glued and he drilled He lamented the fact that he had to build toys, for the ungrateful, bothersome world’s […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Where the Spirit Lies
It’s not about the presents, or the baubles or the bangles Or multi-colored lights, after they’re hung and un-entangled The egg-nog’s nice, but that’s not it, nor beef cut with a cleaver It’s not the Yorkshire pudding, and it’s not the chestnuts either I think it’s an idea, that’s wrapped up inside a feeling That […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: The Miracle Maker
I live in the light, of a flickering flame Long ago I had hopes, and had flesh and a name It’s been many years, since I met my reward And awakened aware, in the light of the Lord ‘Twas a cold Christmas Eve, when I breathed my last breath And I prayed to bring peace, […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: An Unseen Story of Christmas
As the mouse in the wall, poked his eye through the hole He saw Mother and Father inside Preparing the toys, and the cookies and milk For when Jolly St. Nick would arrive So he waited and watched, until they went to sleep He looked out to the left and the right And then finally […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Tim
Christmastime’s upon us, and as lighted trees appear The meaning’s getting lost to us, and won’t be found I fear The money spent on presents, and on gifts it seems defines What kind of Christmas people have, and hold inside their minds Let’s stop and read or watch the tale, which Charles Dickens told When […]
Jeff Burkhart’s “Rhyme and Reason Countdown to Christmas”: Fruitcake
I know it’s close to Christmas, because just the other day I received a fruitcake, it was much to my dismay No way to tell how old it is, a couple years I guess The due date on a fruitcake, is a century more or less The fruit’s had something done to it, the cake’s […]