A familiar theme as that Season of the Year comes around again, It should bring back a memory

*l FAMILY CHRISTMAS.

Christmas Day once more and the family gathers round
Children screaming with delight at presents that abound
Grandparents remenisce over Christmases spent so long ago
In much the same old way and so the memories flow.

Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Cousins, Nephews, Aunts and Nieces,
All exchanging newsy gossip, with interesting bits and pieces,
Of what's been happening in their lives since last they met
Some at least twelve months ago some longer, even yet.

Such eager chatter with noisy play, how the time just slips away
Exchanging gifts, with thank yous flowing, wrapping papers on
display
Faces glowing, just what I needed comes the thanks,I've wanted that
for ages
It's dinner time already, hurry up the tables waiting put that book
down and leave the pages

The dinner tables groaning, bearing food galore
It looks like someones raided, a rich and varied hoard,
Of food gathered over time and saved solely for this day
Laid out on the special cloth, used only in this way.

The family gathers round this feast of good things to delight
The blessings said by one and all, to thank God for his might
The things we have and the way we live in this land beyond compare
Deserve our heartfelt thankfulness, for the bounty we all share.

We've had our fill, no room for more, the plates we pushed away
Around the the table the talkings ceased no more we have to say
The children settled with their toys have gone away to play
Adults collapse into chairs and heads begin to nod and sway.

Late afternoon comes and goes in a quiet and sleepy style
Quietly the tables set once more with another mounting pile
Of food and goodies of different sorts, cake and biscuits too
Take their place amongst the meats and salads set in view

Once again we take our seats, around the festive board
And pick a piece of this or that, just to be in quiet accord
Apetite has long gone, it's just the thing to do somehoww
Protesting vainly I've had enough, no more for me for now.

Comes time to leave the family group, gathered for this occasion,
Where do we gather next time round?. Who'll solve the old equation
A voice cries out from out the throng I had you all last year,
Another voice cries plaintively, let's go to your Mother's dear.

At last the questions settled and every one agrees
It's been a good old family Ghristmas and everyone is pleased
Cars start up, goodbyes are said, with see you all next year
The family's gathered, another Christmas spent,with those we hold
so dear

JW 12/93