"Home For the Holidays" by Alethea Vickerman '22
Art by Mary Rose Corkery '18
My hands are numb
My nose is cold
I walk and walk
Through ice and snow
What once was north
I no longer know
I passed that tree
An hour ago
I stumble on with little hope
I must persist, I must not mope
I went to town to buy a gift
For my dearest love
I made the trip
With the few coins I had
From an old coat pocket
I could not buy a golden locket
Instead I bought what she desired
But now I’m lost and very tired
I make my way in a forest thick
Hoping to spot a house of brick
A path lined to the fire inside
To my little girl
Outloud I cried
“I hurry home, my dearest one
For soon we will have so much fun”
I turned the bend and saw with joy
A glowing window through the void
My goal in reach, I hurried on
To announce myself I sang a song
“I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
From your father who loves you”
In the door she appeared
My dearest little girl who I loved stronger than the tide
She hugged me tight and smiled wide
Behind my back I pulled the doll
The reason for my journey, presented it, a bow and all
For this gift was a way
My little girl could hold
My love in her hands
To the day she grows old
My tale is not special
Nor my gift grand
But my love for my daughter
I show how I can
So this holiday season
Through the bustle and hurry
Take a moment to realize
Life is a journey
At the end of the day
It is not what we own
It is those we love
And how it is shone
That makes holidays special
And gifts full of meaning
When the rest of the world
Often seems to be freezing
It is the warmth in our hearts
That leads the way
To a better tomorrow
And a brighter today
My nose is cold
I walk and walk
Through ice and snow
What once was north
I no longer know
I passed that tree
An hour ago
I stumble on with little hope
I must persist, I must not mope
I went to town to buy a gift
For my dearest love
I made the trip
With the few coins I had
From an old coat pocket
I could not buy a golden locket
Instead I bought what she desired
But now I’m lost and very tired
I make my way in a forest thick
Hoping to spot a house of brick
A path lined to the fire inside
To my little girl
Outloud I cried
“I hurry home, my dearest one
For soon we will have so much fun”
I turned the bend and saw with joy
A glowing window through the void
My goal in reach, I hurried on
To announce myself I sang a song
“I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
From your father who loves you”
In the door she appeared
My dearest little girl who I loved stronger than the tide
She hugged me tight and smiled wide
Behind my back I pulled the doll
The reason for my journey, presented it, a bow and all
For this gift was a way
My little girl could hold
My love in her hands
To the day she grows old
My tale is not special
Nor my gift grand
But my love for my daughter
I show how I can
So this holiday season
Through the bustle and hurry
Take a moment to realize
Life is a journey
At the end of the day
It is not what we own
It is those we love
And how it is shone
That makes holidays special
And gifts full of meaning
When the rest of the world
Often seems to be freezing
It is the warmth in our hearts
That leads the way
To a better tomorrow
And a brighter today
