I was visiting my Aunt Bettie who is in rehab at a nursing home to recover from a broken arm. After a wonderful visit with her I walked the halls as I left and saw a woman in a wheel chair. As I came home these words were running around in my head.
The Changes of Christmas
By Larry Linville
before she could walk
she sat on Santa’s lap
and cried
because she was scared
by the bright red uniform
and long white beard
in later years she put stars in the catalog
to mark the toys she wanted for Christmas
and her mother helped her
write a letter to Santa
after marriage, she took her children
to cry on Santa’s lap
and she helped them bake cookies
to leave for Santa
on Christmas Eve
now she spends her December days
in a wheelchair
in the halls of a nursing home
staring at the Christmas wreaths on the door
hour after hour
she receives only a few Christmas cards
which a nurse reads to her
over and over again
visiting caroling groups sing in her room
as she stares blankly into their eyes
and sometimes smiles
but she’s not sure why
she gets some of the Christmas dinner
in her mouth
the rest fall to the floor
like wrapping paper used to land
all around a Christmas tree
© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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1 comment:
Very good---we have been in Columbia with my sister since we have not had power since Sunday but have it as of last night.
The nursing home that Betty Quigley's sister Jane is in in New Florence does not have power but a generator.
This poem really spoke to me.
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