Christmas Poem by Jimmy Scanlon

I never did get that train set at 8
The basketball at 10
Wouldn't have fit beneath the Christmas tree anyways
Nor those Eddie Bauer Ice skates when I was twelve
Or the baseball shoes with cleats when I was 13
At 16 the green sweater with a bug-eyed deer and Santa Waving from my chest to everyone I didn't know
I gave away the day after
And the tennis balls from my Aunt
I gave to a neighborhood dog that was my friend
At 18 the flannel shirt and the argyle socks
to Dancing Eddie Brannigan
That he wanted to kiss me for...
God Bless Eddie
But Santa...well
He was never that magical.