It’s on its
Way making its
Way to you
Brown and furry
Plush and warm
Something that listens
Sometimes to hold
If I could
Have I’d wrapped
Myself up and
Sent me instead
But apart we
Must be this
Christmas you there
So instead I
Sent you me
If I were stuffed
Because every boy
Needs a bear
I have discovered
In my long
Life that people
Fall neatly into
Two distinct categories
Problems and solutions
Those that are
Problems attach and
Feed literally sucking
Ones goodness out
Until what’s left
Is either husks
Or other feeders
While those solutions
Behave like breezes
And mittens and
Blankets on chilly
Nights problems be
Gone I’m looking
Only for solutions
I do remember
That it started
Like a bubble
Deep down there
Under ground somewhere
Or even maybe
Sometimes high above
Once or twice
I do recall
It happening too
A subtle eek
An infectious smile
Of quiet understanding
I am talking
About humor actually
Which surprises us
As silently quick
As Christmas tree
Lights do when
Once plugged in
Funny thing about
Friends you don’t
Need to find
A friend attractive
And you don’t
Need to be
Close to be
Someone’s friend near
Or far ugly
Or pretty friendship
Requires but two
Ingredients to survive
Care and laughter
Call your friend
Today and laugh
They’ll know that
You miss them
A sweater some
Flannels a pair
Of fuzzy socks
One cup of
Marshmallow bobbing cocoa
A choral classic
Of familiar melodies
Glassy spheres of
Varying size and
Color a box
Full of green
Twinkling spaghetti whose
Plugs are buried
Beneath green blue
Red and yellow
Bulbs a kidnapped
Evergreen standing naked
A kaleidoscope of
Paper and ribbon
One closet stocked
Full of toys
A stack of
Holiday cards filled
With warm greetings
These are what
The holidays always
Mean to me
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 