~"Christmas Wishes"~
Dear Santa
 

My name is Billy
And I’m almost seven;
I live with my Daddy,
My Mama’s in Heaven.

We don’t have much money,
We can’t have a tree;
So I won’t ask for presents,
At least not for me,

Cause I’m really too old
To believe anymore,
But Ben, he’s my brother,
And he’s only four--

He’d like a red wagon;
He thinks they are neat
Ever since he saw one
On Sesame Street.

And my Daddy’s too sick
To work anymore,
He sometimes walks funny
And falls on the floor;

But he does need some boots
To put on his feet
When he’s out late at night
And there’s snow in the street

And, honest, dear Santa,
I’ve tried to be good.
I do all the things
A little boy should.

I get Ben his breakfast
Most days, as a rule,
And take him next door
When I go to school.

And I try not to listen
To folks when they say
My Daddy’s just drinkin’
His whole life away.

They don’t understand,
But it’s easy to see,
He just misses Mama
Even more than me.

So I help him in bed
When he comes home at night,
I tuck him in good
And turn out the light.

And finally, dear Santa,
Tho’ I know you’re not real,
I just want to tell you
How lonely I feel.

And if on this Christmas
Our house you are near,
I’ll leave you a cookie
And maybe some beer.

If you’d just bring the wagon
And boots for my Dad,
You’d make it the best Christmas
A boy ever had.

And if you’re in touch
With those folks up above,
Tell Mama I miss her,
And send her my love.

©Linda Newman
GramLin99@aol.com
All rights reserved.
 
 
 

© Linda Newman
Used with permission