In a quiet town one winter’s eve
As the snow swirled gently ‘round,
A woodsman spied a smallish form
Lying still upon the ground.
‘Twas a maid so fair of face
Fading in the night.
The woodsman’s heart began to melt
As he brought her near the light.
Why was this child without shelter
On a night so cold and cruel,
When she should be near her family
With tonight so close to Yule.
But there was no one searching
On the dark and empty road,
So he hurried toward his own small home
With his frail and fragile load.
The wind blew fiercely against the man
Who carried the weakened waif,
But he only thought of his dear wife
Who would see them warm and safe.
A candle in the window
Said he’d soon be there.
The fading life he carried
Was more than he could bear.
“I know we haven’t much, my love,
But for her we must share.
In the homes of plenty,
They were too warm to care.”
They set the poor child by the hearth
As the fire began to glow.
Warm broth would soon bring color
To a face as white as snow.
The children dressed in rags came ‘round
To gaze upon their guest.
So young and frail she looked to them;
Their eyes began to mist.
“Tis Christmas Eve,” the woodsman said,
“Come gather ‘round our tree
And light the candles and say a prayer,
For how blessed we all must be.”
The young stranger smiled and stood
And joined the woodsman’s clan,
And stood by father and mother
And joined them hand in hand.
“You are kind and gentle folk
Who have but love to spare.
And yet you brought a stranger here
When others would not dare.
I was sent to find such men
Before this Christmas day.
‘Ere you came, I had feared
My hope would fade away.
Every family saw my dress
And turned be to the street.
There was no kind compassion
In town for me to meet.
Yet here, you are a poor man
Whose labors break your back,
Whose family huddles together
In an old but sturdy shack.
You found room to house me
And feed and keep me warm,
And you shared your meager feast with me
That I would come to no harm.
You show a gentle soul, good sir,
That will lead you through this life.
That goodness shall repay you,
Your family and your wife.”
A golden glow surrounded her;
The Yule tree glowed with love.
The woodsman’s cabin filled with song
From angels up above.
“The kindness that you’ve given me
Was kingly through and through,
And I shall repay the kindness
By watching over you.”
The stranger was an angel
Sent to search for love,
And she rose ‘atop their Yule tree
To guard them from above.
As they protected her, she guarded them–
And she watches over thee.
And that’s why there’s an angel
‘A top your Christmas tree.
–1995
chimerawrites 