A Christmas Eve Poem...

The Spirit Of Christmas
Written By Mindy Lee - December 21, 2011

Greg asked his mom if Santa was real
He was at that age now, she said, "Let's make a deal
I'll give you a job - think of someone who might
not be as lucky as you on Christmas night

Now here is some money, you go buy a gift
Something he may have asked for as his Christmas wish
Then I'll help you wrap it with some ribbons and bows
And we'll hand deliver it, then hide as it snows"

He thought for a minute then said right out loud
"I KNOW! I'll buy something for Charlie MacLeod!"
Charlie didn't have much, his family was poor
His boots, they had holes and his coat, it was tore

Greg took the money and to the store he did go
A few minutes later he came out, bags in tow
His mom wrapped the boots and then wrapped the coat
And finally the truck, he would love - no doubt!

They walked across town, Greg had this feeling inside
The feeling of excitement, he just couldn't hide
He placed the gifts on the doorstep, then rang the bell slow
Then ran behind a tree, so no one would know

Charlie answered the door and saw gifts just for him
New coat and new boots and a truck made him grin
He broke down and cried said, "Mom - Santa was here"
Greg looked at his mom, in his eyes - there were tears

"You see Greg - Santa, works in mysterious ways
You're now one of his helpers for the rest of your days
That feeling you felt inside of your chest
Is the true meaning of Christmas and it is the best"

Greg and his mom walked quietly home
He went straight to his room, like he was King of the throne
He cuddled up tightly that night in his bed
Feeling the true spirit of Christmas in his heart and his head

Greg never asked again if Santa was real
He knew in his heart, the way he should feel
He felt in his heart a feeling so true
That the true spirit of Christmas lies inside of you

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Open Link Night...Merry Christmas to all and wishing you all the very best in the New Year!

Christmas Countdown

The countdown's on, there's five more sleeps
Til Santa comes to town
The kids are soooo excited
They're jumping up and down

Mommy can we bake some cookies
For Santa Claus himself?
Can we get a carrot ready
For the reindeer and his elf?

Hey Mommy can we turn it up?
I just love this song!
Can we rock around the Christmas tree
And sing Jingle Bells all night long?

Oh Mommy I'm so tired
I am wore right out
Can I put my jammies on
And put some cookies out?

Christmas morn will be here soon
Oh boy, I just can't wait
Oh Santa don't forget me
Please Santa don't be late!

Open Link Night 21 -

Hi everyone;
Sorry I've been so busy with my kids and their sports I really have put my writing on the back burner.  However...'tis the season and I have chosen this poem for you all tonight.  Enjoy everyone!

Christmas Traditions

It's that time of year again when Santa comes to town
It's time to start tradtions as family gathers round
But as I sit and stare outside at that fresh fallen snow
It takes me back to the little girl I was some years ago

I remember that special feeling at that time of year
When I'd feel all warm inside and Christmas tunes I'd hear
I'd sing along with Buck Owens to his "Christmas Shopping" tune
While wrapping up some presents in the living room

My mom would put the candy out and visitors would come
They'd sit and talk a little while and have a drink of rum
Then that night on Christmas Eve we'd visit our family dear
Sing and dance, talk and laugh and have a cup of cheer

Then go home to the smell of turkey roasting in the house
And put on new pajama's and know that Santa's close
Give some goodnight kisses and climb into my bed
Snuggle down and fall asleep and dream of Santa's sled

Then on Christmas morning I'd wip the sleep out of my eyes
And go into the living room for my Santa surprise
We'd open all our presents and get dinner underway
And enjoy the family time we shared on that Christmas Day

Now I'm back in my living room as my kids are dancing round
To Dolly Parton's Jingle Bells oh what a festive sound
I may be all grown up now but my traditions I hold dear
For now I share them with my kids every single year

Meeting the Bar - Critique and Craft - Conflation

This is a new type of poem for me.  I prefer the rhyming types...however, when I sat with my pen, the words flowed...very powerful and very deep....yet so true!

Secrets & Lies

Secrets and lies
hurt and pain
That's my normal.

The put downs from my family
I'm not good enough
I'll never be
who they want me to be

But how can I?
I'm not a part of them

The secrets
My birth mother
passed me to strangers
I was abandoned
by my mother
My own flesh and blood
For a man.
I was abandoned

Of coarse I don't feel worthy
Adopted - I never knew
Found out from the town

the secrets
the lies
the hurt
the pain
That's my normal
That's who I am
Lost and Broken
Abandoned


Unpublished
Written by: Mindy Lee
October 27, 2011

Open Link Night 15

Seems fitting for me to use this poem this week!  A little bit of Halloween fun!  Happy Halloween everyone!

Halloween Night

It is Halloween night
And what a night it will be
There'll be pumpkins, there'll be goblins
And witches to see
There'll be bats and black cats
And skeletons too
There'll be ghosts in the trees
Jumping out saying "BOO!"
Black cats are bad luck
When the full moon is bright
And the bats they'll be flying
Around you tonight
The witches will be making
Their favorite brew
While the goblins are running
Around scaring you
So look out and be careful
On this spooky night
You don't know what is out there
That will give you a fright
It's Halloween night
And what a night is has been
I've seen witches and goblins
Been scared out of my skin
The pumpkins have smiled
Their evil grin
And ghosts have yelled "BOO!"
What a night it has been

dVerse - Taboo subjects! I like this idea...here is what I wrote:

OUR COUNTRY

Well here you are in Canada, a Country that is free
A Country that allows us, to be all we want to be
We're proud to live in Canada, our home and native land
I just don't understand how people, can change things on demand

People from other countries come here for, life and security
But then go and change our laws,  that's what bother's me
We can't say "Merry Christmas", who are they to change that?
If they want to live their ways, they should've stayed where they were at!

This is our country with our morals and values
We used to say the Lord's Prayer, in school - it is true!
And now that is no longer and we can't even say "GOD"
I wish the people running this country - would end this poor facade!

I'm not a prejudiced person, I believe we're all the same
But I can't say that I'm happy of the country we've became
We're bowing down to other cultures, while they laugh in our face
Because they're getting what they want and I think it's a disgrace!

If we went to other countries, we'd have to abide by their rules
And we would out of respect, because us Canadians are cool
We wouldn't whine or complain as that's just the way it is
Get over it all you other countries - if Canada's where you want to live

So what's it going to take to get our country back on track?
And get our laws in order as well as our backbone back?
I'm proud to be a Canadian, and I welcome any hand
But this is OUR country, you live the rules of OUR land!

This week for dVerse...write a poem about poetry. Well - I did my best! I called it "Words".

Words

I grab my pen and let it flow
across the sheet of white
I let it be in full control
It's amazing what it writes

If we didn't have poetic words
There would be no conversations
We wouldn't share our many talks
Or share newest creations

If we didn't have different types of poems
There would be no genres of songs
There would be no books, there would be no movies
Pen to paper is like a friendship bond

Some say poetry is over rated
Sometime's it's frowned upon
Many people just don't get it
They look away and carry on

So, I grab my pen and let it flow
across this sheet of white
For I think poetry is a huge staple
In all that we recite

Poetics - Trai_n_n_n_n_n_n_n_n_s

The Train of Life

Looking out the back window of a train, it all goes by so fast
You don't enjoy the ride and the excitement doesn't last
Some sit with their head in their hands and remember wasted days
They think about what could have been different, in so may ways

For the can't change what has been done, they just keep moving on
And look at where they're going and not at what's already gone
Your life is like a train ride, both exciting and worth while
But the ride doesn't last so take the time to smile

So sit up in the engine so you don't miss a thing
Feel the wind on your face and the excitement that it brings
See many of life's treasures as you're moving about
The world that you long to see, just go with it, have no doubts

You want to see what's in the future and stop looking at the past
Life's too short for "should have been's", life moves way too fast
So if the ride is bumpy, you have to stay on track
Stay up front and enjoy the ride, don't go to the back

The enjoyment of life is where you've been, but also where you're going
Everything you've already done and the mystery of the unknowing
So never second guess yourself, never hold back and never complain
Just live life to the fullest, get on and ride the train

Open Link Night Week 9

A close friend of mine lived by these words; Get up, Look Up, Never Give Up.  I thought I'd write a poem about these inspirational words.  I hope you like it!

Get Up, Look Up, Never Give Up

Get up, look up, never give up
If that's what gets you through today
And gives you the strength to carry on and leads you along the way
Then get up, look up and never give up

There he was just five years old with his training wheels on the ground
His Dad said he was ready, so in him some strength he found
To get on that bike and start to ride - he was ready to explore
But when he fell and hurt his knee, he had to practice more

But his dad said:
Get up, look up, never give up
If that's what gets you through today
And gives you the strength to carry on and leads you along the way
Then get up, look up and never give up

There he was with his graduating class but just one credit shy
Of recieving his diploma, all he could do was sit and cry
His teacher went and talked to him and said "This is all you have to do
This twenty page research project and it should pull you through"

And his teacher said:
Get up, look up, never give up
If that's what gets you through today
And gives you the strength to carry on and leads you along the way
Then get up, look up and never give up

Some years later he had some trouble and didn't feel very well
So he went to see his doctor, it was bad news - he could tell
Doc told him he had the big "C" and quite a fight that it would be
He was completely devistated and so was his family

But his doctor said:
Get up, look up, never give up
If that's what gets you through today
And gives you the strength to carry on and leads you along the way
Then get up, look up and never give up

So he just wanted to tell you, that life's not an easy task
But with some courage and confidence you'll have a half full glass
Don't let anyone put you down or tell you, you won't succeed
Because if you believe in yourself, you can be all you want to be

And he said:
I got up, looked up, and never gave up
That's what got me through today
And gave me the strength to carry on and lead me along the way
So I got up, I looked up and never gave up
Yes I always say, get up, look up and never give up!

I wrote this poem last year about September 11th. I remember watching everything unravel on television that day. It was heartbreaking! I watched a video clip showing when the first tower was hit until they both fell that someone had captured...which inspired this poem.

The Day The Towers Went Down

Where were you that September day, back in 2001
The day a plane flew into Tower One - that's where it all begun
What started out as a beautiful, sunny day, ended in tragedy
As everyone feared for their safety and worried about family

Sirens screaming in the streets, people scattered on the ground
Getting lost in the dust and ash - they hear that horrible sound
Another plane hit the second tower, everyone in complete dismay
New York would never be the same again, due to that awful day

There's papers flying in the breeze and black smoke filled the sky
People jumped out of buildings as onlookers stopped to cry
As the buildings started to collapse, you wondered how many were trapped inside
Did they get out in time, and how many of them survived

The day the towers went down will go down in history
The 11th day of September, in our hearts will always be
We'll never forget the innocent people, this world had lost that day
For every year for years to come - our respects to them, we'll pay

So as the dust did settle and fear and silence filled each state
As families sat by their phones and hoped to hear from their soul mates
Now we look back on that day while we remember with a frown
The tragedy and loved ones lost, the day the towers went down

dVerse Open Link Night - week 7

Sometimes people get to a point in their lives when they feel like giving up.  I was in that place not long ago.  Someone came into my life and said "When the world says give up.  Hope whispers "Give it one more try", with her help...I'm glad I did!

Believed In Me

I have hit rock bottom
Seems there's no where else to go
But into a deep dark hole
I was at my lowest low
I feel the world's against me
I can trust no one
But you've come into my life
And helped me see the sun

Because you believed in me
You've talked me through the pain
Yes you believed in me
You've helped to stop the rain
You've helped me see life differently
Through someone else's eyes
And helped me see I have the strength
To spread my wings and fly

Thank you for your support
And you're belief in me as well
Over the past year or so
I think I've been in hell
With someone who I can trust
I'm dealing with my past
It may take a little while
But my heart's healing at last

Because you believed in me
You've walked me through the rain
Yes you believed in me
Some self-esteem to gain
You've helped me live my life again
With confidence and faith
And cared enough to help me
Get to a happy place

Isn't it just something
A beautiful angel from the start
Who's willing to help a broken girl
Fix her shattered heart
I have come a long, long way
From some months ago
And I have you to thank for that
For never letting go

Poetics - Third Eye Open

I just wrote this for our dverse night.  I never actually thought about the wind, the gravity etc.  So true, that all has to exist because we're here because we depend on air and gravity!  Made me see things differently...hope you like what I've come up with.

Wind, Gravity & Jesus

Hey, can you feel that?
The wind blowing your hair
How is that even possible
I see no wind, I see no air
Something must be moving it
Our eyes can't see but we're aware
That air exists we just can't see
But we know it's there

Hey, can you feel that?
The raindrops falling down
What makes them fall and not float away
And land upon the ground?
Something must be pulling them
Our eyes can't see but we're aware
That gravity exists we just can't see
But we know it's there

Hey, can you feel that?
His presence all around
His belief, his faith, his strength and love
On this path He's led us down
Someone must be touching us
Our eyes can't see but we're aware
That Jesus exists we just can't see
But we know He's there

Hey, did you feel that?
The wind and gravity too?
And did you see Jesus walking?
Is the invisable true?
Something must be telling us
Our eyes can't see but we're aware
The invisable has to exist....and we have to believe it
Because we all are here

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

Tomorrow is not promised so give all your love today
Don't hold grudges and don't stay mad - let that all slip away
Don't live in the past, that doesn't matter anymore
Give all your love today because that's what love is for

Tomorrow is not promised so give all your love today
Call your friends you've lost touch with, invite them to dinner if you may
Relive all the memories, catch up on times gone by
Enjoy your time together - I hope you laugh until you cry

Tomorrow is not promised so give all your love today
Smile at a stranger, it could made a difference in some day
Your smile could be the pick me up, they look for at that time
That just may change the way they feel, about the mountain that they climb

Tomorrow is not promised so give all your love today
Spend time with your children - they won't always be this way
Do the things that matter to them - take the time to play
They'll be gone before you know it - so give all your love today

Tomorrow is not promised so give all your love today
Live life to the fullest, can you think of a better way
To live the life God gave you - you only have one chance
So give all your love today - put on your shoes and dance

This poem is for Meeting the Bar: Critique and Craft at dVerse.

First of all I want to say a big Thank you to all of you for your very kind comments on my recent poems.  Your feedback is very much appreciated...so once again - Thank You!

This poem I have chosen to post is one I had written when a very dear friend of my passed away.  The family joke had always been I was the daughter she never had.  I thought that joke stayed between her and I...until I attended her funeral.  All her sisters and brothers came to find me and hugged me and told me how much Marlene loved me and all of them said "Oh you're Marlene's daughter!"  Funny - I never realized how much of an impact on made on her life.  I just thought it was a family joke.  A year after Marlene had died, I missed here tremendously.  I thought if Heaven had a phone number I could call her...but what would I say?  Well....this is what I came up with.  I've recently put music to it and if you click the link...you can listen to it.  http://www.catching-rainbows.com/songs.html

If Heaven Had A Phone Number

If Heaven had a phone number
I'd call you up today
Just to hear your voice again
From a million miles away

If Heaven had a staircase
I'd climb them one by one
Just to see you smile again
I'd maybe even run

But there is no way to reach you
For Heaven has no phone
But I believe you're watching me
I know I'm not alone
And there are no steps to climb
So I can hear your voice once more
I guess I'll just close my eyes
And see you along the shore

If Heaven had a phone number
I'd call you everyday
Just to say "I love you
And miss you more each day"

And if Heaven had a staircase
I'd climb up to the top
And take you in my arms once more
And hug you with all I've got

But there is no way to reach you
For Heaven has no phone
But I believe you're watching me
I know I'm not alone
And there are no steps to climb
So I can hear your voice once more
I guess I'll just close my eyes
And see you along the shore

You may not be here with me
But I'll not say good bye
For I'll see you again someday
At your mansion in the sky

If Heaven had a phone number
I'd call you up today
Just to say "I love you"
From a million miles away

dVerse Open Mike Night - week 5

For this week...I thought I'd share my all time favorite poem.  I wrote this from a quote my idol, Dolly Parton, once said.  "If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain".  I was watching her biography one night when I heard her say this quote.  After watching her bio, I went to bed...with this line running through my head - if you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain - so after repeating it over and over again, I thought 'I better write this down before I forget it'.  So I did - then proceeded to try and get some sleep.  That didn't work...finally I got up and went downstairs with my note book so I wouldn't wake my husband.  Within 10 minutes, I had it written.  This is called "The Rainbow" and it is a poem about my life.  It's about me always trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life, but ended up facing road blocks.  However, the past year or so - I've realized, my dream is coming true with my writing and I'm now seeing my rainbow.  Enjoy!

"The Rainbow"

I remember being asked, when I was a preteen
What I wanted to do, after I turned eighteen
I had so many dreams, so much I wanted to do
They told me to always watch the sky and enjoy the rainbows view

And they said:  You can't enjoy the rainbow, if you don't put up with the rain
You'll sing and dance, stumble and fall; there'll be a little pain
Just don't give up on your dreams, for they'll come true someday
So if you want to have the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain

Life's a tough ole journey, see it's not the way I planned
I had a family young, and a ring on my left hand
I thought my dreams were gone, never to come true
Until I looked outside one day, and seen the rainbows view

And I said:  I can't enjoy the rainbow, if I don't put up with the rain
I'll sing and dance, stumble and fall, there'll be a little pain
I just can't give up on my dreams, for they'll come true someday
So if I want to have the rainbow, I've got to put up with the rain

It took a little longer, for the years they now have passed
The rain has finally stopped and my dream I'll live at last
I am all grown up now but always remembered what I was told
For I'm sliding down the rainbow now, into the pot of gold

And I said:  I can now enjoy the rainbow, because I put up with the rain
I sang and danced, stumbled and fell, and felt a little pain
I didn't give up on my dreams, for they came true today
Because I wanted the rainbow and I put up with the rain
Now I have the rainbow and no longer have the rain

Poetics - going urban

I was quite excited to see we had to write a poem about our favorite city!  My favorite place in the whole world is Nashville.  It was always my dream to go there...since I was 5 years old.  Finally two years ago (in October) I went on a bustour with my dad.  I was the youngest by at least 30 years but I didn't care.  All who were on that bus lived out my dream with me and were just as happy and excited as I was upon crossing the state line into Tennessee.  I sat in the front seat of the bus and saw the 14 mile marker...that was the longest 14 miles...I wrote this between the 14 mile marker and the state line.  I've also put music to it.  It's called "Tennesse" - I hope you all like it :o)

"Tennessee"

Fourteen miles from Tennessee
Seemed like eternity
Driving through Virgina
Took forever to Tennessee

I saw that sign come closer
That said "Tennessee Welcomes You"
I'm now on country soil
Which I've always wanted to do

And I've got butterflies in my belly
And my eyes filled up with tears
I've waited many years for this
As the state lines drawing near

The overflow of emotions
I can't believe I'm finally here
I'm finally living out my dream
As I look out the window and stare

I'm on Tennessee soil
I'm on country ground
I have finally made it
Now I'm Nashville bound

Fourteen miles from Tennessee
Seemed like eternity
I have finally made it
Here in Tennessee

Check out the song -
http://www.catching-rainbows.com/songs.html

Drop of Dew

Early one morning I sat outside, under a beautiful sky of blue
And then I suddenly realized, something so very true
As I put into perspective, the dew drops on the grass
I see that I'm the dew drop, surrounded by life of the middle class

In the eye of a dew drop, it sees mountains far and wide
It sees the big blue ocean and the sky when clouds collide
It sees the beautiful forest of trees both short and tall
And it follows the flowing river, right down to the waterfall

That dew drop on that blade of grass, is me on God's green Earth
It's a tiny drop of water, but it truly has it's worth
It has it's place in this world, it has it's job to do
And the grass is the world around me and I'm the drop of dew

I've been put here for a reason, I have a job to do
I'm important to someone and I am worthy too
I see the world around me; forests, oceans and mountains high
And like the drops of dew, I see the stars up in the sky

Isn't it just something when you take the time to look
That this journey we call life, could be a really good book
And a little drop of water is as special as I am too
And that I'm just as important as a tiny drop of dew


I wrote this poem last year.  I got a one line email from a dear friend who has since passed.  The email said "You could write a poem about a dew drop on a blade of grass.  Could be a good poem Mindy."  So with that - came this.  I hope you like it.