By Dennis Patton
A FALL DRIVE
Fallen leaves rioting behind a car as it drives along an unswept country road on a late autumn day.
— Lucy Allen Benton
— Pat Laster Benton SENYRU
December Sunday coffee and The Courier on the front porch swing
THE BEST PRESENT
When Christmas trees are shining bright, wide-eyed children will start to write letters to Santa for something their little hearts want him to bring. Parents rush at a hectic pace to find toys in a certain place.
The place to go and take your child is the manger of the baby, “mild.”
There, they will find the best present for us that God has ever sent.
— Cathy Parker Alexander
WHAT PRICE CHRISTMAS?
Are you trying to kill Christmas? And if you are, would you deny it? Are you simply selling it off To whoever will buy it?
You are wrapping it up
In sales pitches and jingles And stamping “For Sale” signs On the bags of Kriss Kringles.
The season is hawked All across this land To be sold to those With money in hand.
You cannot kill Christmas It survives you and me And it cannot be sold Because Christmas is free.
— Howard Nobles Deceased
CHRISTMAS GIFT
The first Christmas, was it beneath a tree, and were the joyful there with songs of love?
Was the invitation sent to “All Ye” with tidings on the wings of cooing doves? Were streets alive with lights of Christmas hue, and did each stranger come to give a gift wrapped up in red and green and shades of blue?
I wonder as I set my mind adrift.
Today, we say a lasting gift and, yet, the masses rush to spend their monthly pay but still forget all hopes and fears are met in one who came on that first Christmas Day.
The wrapping was a lonely cattle stall. The gift—a babe—the Father’s love to all. — Dennis Patton Alexander
FIRST BORN
He’s the final revelation
He’s the author of salvation The first and the last
The future and the past He dies to save us from sin And then He rose again
Just as the Father said
The first born from the dead
—Raye Carroll Benton
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The magnificent sparkling Christmas lights,
Rivaling stars of that long ago night. Excited children’s voices are ringing, With news of a birth in a manger low. Choirs of heavenly voices are singing, Bringing joy untold to the world below. Rivaling stars of that long ago night The magnificent sparkling Christmas lights.
— Sue Watson Benton •••
To submit poems for publication, please send poems of 16 or fewer lines to Dennis Patton, 2512 Springhill Circle, Alexander, AR 72002, or patton_dr@hotmail.com.