An Old Crumpled Letter

By: Felix Perry

(Photo magic…Frank Kook)

He held the crumpled old letter gingerly

Its paper yellowed now with its age

By the light from a kerosene lantern

He read each word written on that page

Each year he took it out as a reminder

Even though he could say it line for line

Just a letter gave him true inspiration

So, his twinkling eyes, read it one more time

It started out with a line known well

To almost every girl and boy

“Dear Santa” was the opening address

Which always made him fill with joy

He went on to read a now famous line

That always made him pause

It asked a question as old as the man

“Is there really a Santa Claus?”

… and Santa smiled, wiped away a tear of joy

Remembering to “Dear Virginia…” what he’d had to say

To her all those many, many years ago

Yet, it was still just as real and true today

Now I won’t write out that precious letter

For the legend and the story, we all know

I’ll just say Santa lives eternally inside our hearts

And its their the Christmas spirit will always glow…