Last week at church,
chatting with Dave
and his wife Sue,
I discovered he plays Santa
for us at the Feast of St. Nicholas.
I never knew it was him.
He nodded over at my Buddy
and said "He's gotten so tall
this year. How is he doing in school?"
Sue laughed and said "Santa is watching!"
"It's true," Santa said,
"I keep my eye on him.
He has been my special project every year."
"We are a little afraid of Santa" I murmured,
not wanting the boys to hear us.
"I know" said Santa.
"Last year he was brave
and almost agreed to sit on my lap.
His younger brother
has no fear at all, does he?"
I laughed. "I had no idea it was you.
Are you really Santa?"
"Are you kidding?" Sue said.
"Santa comes to breakfast
hoping to see Buddy.
For years Santa has been
hoping to get a smile.
He's working on
getting a hug
from that sweet boy."
Dave laughed
with a twinkle in his eye
and I'm sure I saw
his belly jiggle
just a little.
-Andromeda Jazmon
This week I didn't finish my grad school homework until late yestedary, so I am doing my Friday Poetry on Saturday morning. The round up is at Julie Larios's blog The Drift Record. Enjoy and be thankful!
9 comments:
This poem warmed my heart. Dave is really Santa, in more ways than one. :)
I love this poem. It's making me smile. And it says so much about community.
I read this one a couple of times, there's such a wonderful tenderness in it.
Very nice.
Oh. Hugs to that sweet boy. I never did get over the Santa fear, but how lovely that even you were fooled by who it was.
We were never taught to believe in Santa; my mother was afraid we'd think she had lied about everything, so I never experienced the belief in a tangible good like that. I think in some ways, Santa is like believing in an aspect of God, maybe. Either way -- it's lovely that Dave embodies both, isn't it?
Yes, all your comments have brought out what I meant to say. It really is about the community. I was so touched and pleased to find that Santa was among us, watching out and caring for my boys when I didn't even know it. I felt so embraced.
Tanita, we were taught that "Santa" was a story, not a real person. Jesus is the reason for the season... all that. I take the same approach for my boys, but they want to believe in Santa. I have gotten more flexible as I get older. This is probably the first time ever that I have really felt warm & fuzzy toward Santa. It's only because he was so loving. Most of what we see portrayed is far too commercial for my liking...
But this time he got me.
I am just loving this sweetness.
Thank thee.
Santa is among us. Good to know!
I love that. That is a great story. And great poem.
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