Remember last Christmas Eve
When we sat next to our first tree
Ornaments reflected light
Of a candle in the night
And I gave you a music box
Back then that seemed like so much
We watched it go round and round
As the melodies unwound
But all these things are now long gone
And not to be wished upon again
But the musical box continues to turn
The candle in the window continues to burn
But I know they're just memories
Like Christmas past and you and me
Remember that old fireplace
That held the room in warm embrace
And as we watched for Christmas ghosts
The fire held the shadows close
But now upon that Christmas scene
The candle wax of melted dreams
And ornaments of shattered glass
Now belonging to the past
But all these things are now long gone
And not to be wished upon again
But the musical box continues to turn
The candle in the window continues to burn
But I know they're just memories
Like Christmas past and you and me
BEHIND THAT SINGLE LETTER
WAS A WEATHERED PHOTOGRAPH
OF THAT MAN IN THE ARTICLE
BUT FROM SOMEWHERE IN HIS PAST
AND STANDING THERE BESIDE HIM
IN A SETTING SUMMER SUN
WAS THE LADY WHO USED TO OWN THIS HOUSE
ONLY HERE SHE WAS QUITE YOUNG
SHE HAD MOVED TO A SMALLER PLACE
THAT WAS ONLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR
AND THEN THE CHILD NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE
THAT SHE HAD MISSED BEFORE
THIS LETTER HAD NO STAMP IT SEEMED
AND WAS SURELY NEVER SENT
AND AS SHE SAT UPON THE FLOOR
THAT CHILD SHE WONDERED WHAT IT MEANT
THEN THE ANGEL WHISPERED TO HER
A MOST IMPORTANT FACT
THAT FOR COMPASSION TO BE REAL
IT REQUIRES ONE TO ACT
THEN ONCE AGAIN THAT CHILD CAME UP
WITH A CHILD'S IDEA
BUT SHE KNEW SHE MUST ACT FAST
FOR TIME, IT WAS GROWING DEAR
SO TAKING THAT ARTICLE BACK DOWNSTAIRS
SHE FOUND THE KITCHEN PHONE
AND CALLED UP INFORMATION
TO FIND THE NUMBER OF HIS HOME
AND WHEN HE PICKED UP THE RECEIVER
SHE QUICKLY TOLD HIM QUITE ENOUGH
TO KNOW WHO WAS WAITING ON THIS NIGHT FOR HIM
AND THEN THE CHILD, SHE JUST HUNG UP
THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WAS AWAKE
SHE TOOK A QUICK LOOK DOWN THE HALL
THEN SHE FOUND HER NEIGHBOR'S NUMBER
AND REPEATED THAT SAME CALL