Christmas Alone Poem by Colin Ian Jeffery

When I was a child
Christmas was joyous
Merrily enhancing the heart
Memories of smiles and laughter
Paper hats and pulling crackers
Golden times with parents and brother.

When a child late on Christmas Eve
Close to midnight hour
My father crept silent as a mouse
Into bedroom I shared with my brother
Filling pillowcases with toys
While we pretended to be asleep.
.
Christmas dinner sitting round laden table
Turkey crisp and golden
Legs for my brother and me.
Sage stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts,
Flaming Christmas pudding
Sprinkled with three-penny pieces for luck.

Now, alone and frail, white-haired in old age
With parents and brother long gone
I eat alone watching with my dogs
Thinking of those other Christmases
When I was a child sitting at a laden table
Hearing my family's laughter sharing the joy.