*Spoiler alert!* This is the last part of a serial - don't start here! Part I is here.
Of ev'ry pot of tea that I remember,
At home, in rest'raunts, diners, small cafes,
The ending of that one, that late December,
Had touched my life, a myriad of ways.
He put his cup down. "Want to see the sleigh?
It's on your house. The reindeer had to eat."
We stepped outside, to get him on his way,
And then I saw them. High above the street,
All eight of them. And he was on the roof,
And calling every one of them by name.
I watched, and followed ev'ry silent hoof.
And then,
that big machine for cleaning came,
And I was in my bed. Not sleeping quite,
Just listening. A noise, and then... delight.
I'd heard this:
"Merry Christmas, all!
Goodnight!"
- The End -
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Comments
Thank you in advance for stopping by to read.
I'm sorry it took me forever to get here.
This is sweet, and wistful, and wonderful.
I began thinking of writing this three, maybe even four, months ago. But I couldn't think of how to find the time to write the whole thing, and post it as a Christmas Eve special. Then the idea of stretching it out over several posts just fell into place. Duh.
I've spent the year writing bits and pieces of immediate gratification, and everyone has been very gracious in their response. You all have been all the more gracious here, with this series. Thank you so much for staying with it and commenting along the way. I wish I could express how much your comments mean.
To wit...
heidibeth: frequently, before I write at night, I sneak around to your blog and read it. You story has been quite moving, and helps transport me to a different place from my everyday. Please keep it up.
Dave: I can't express my thanks enough for your labor of love, with the PPs. You have provided some very healthy collagen for the poets here. Thank you.
catch: Santa got me. I have really made friends with him this year.
vanessa: I don't care how long it took you. It is always a pleasure - I would even say a relief - to see you here. Your comments provide that sort of comfort, like coming home at the end of the day.
pastvoices: Merry Christmas to you. I'll be able to spend a little more time reading very soon. I'm sorry I haven't spent more time on your blog up till now - you have been a very, very faithful reader, and I treasure that.
Leon: Don't you just love the form? I've written more this year than I had in my entire 54 years up till now (though admittedly, I could not talk for my first 3). There are formal questions about some of the installments here -- frequently the volta is not really a volta, for example. But I really do love the form.
hugs: How very sweet. Just remember, when you are reading a Santa story you are not talking to yourself.
trilogy: Do you remember why I favorited you? It was the word "spitfire." That was a wonderful poem. Thank you for staying with it here; your presence as a reader has become almost a north star, you are so faithful.
anna1: Lately you've been talking about your old students dropping by to say hello. It seems to me that part of your life has been very rich. And it is a great pleasure to see you in the comments, almost daily.
That's all folks. Thank you, as always, for reading and commenting.
I just hated missing this final instalment today. Well at least I've made it here now. And yet, somehow, it seems even more special and magical to read it now as it is only two minutes away from midnight here ... two minutes away from Christmas Day ... two minutes away from Santa!
I went back and re-read every part and, DB, this has been purely and simply magical!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Happy Christmas DB!
Goodnight!