The Magic Of Christmas Snow
Karen Torbiak
2000

Tears streak her tired face
she has tried so hard
to bring cheer to this apartment
but still it is barren of things

This night is Christmas Eve
and though she has worked late,
still there was no money
to purchase even a small gift

As she looks around the empty room
she sighs and tears again run free
for no tree, no gifts, or special treats
to bring giggles of laughter to her children

A small smile lights her eyes
as she remembers the little chicken
given her and she sends high
a silent prayer of gratitude

Their day may not be filled with toys,
sugar candy, gumdrops and minty candy canes
that paint the lips red as they are sucked
with giggles of delight by children

Still, there will be laughter and song
within this tiny place where
they have labored together to fill
it with love and compassion for each other

She looks out the window and gasps with pleasure
as she watches the big flakes of snow
fall gently to the ground and remembers
Christmases of her own childhood

Her mother always prayed for snow on Christmas Eve
for she said that was magic snow and brought
with it the magic of Christmas Eve when miracles
would happen to all those who believed

A longing sigh escapes her as she feels the
still strong belief in the magic of Christmas
Eve snow flow though her leaving behind
a feeling of peace and contentment

Yes, she smiles to herself as she thinks
'We may not have a tree and all the decorations
but we have something that is priceless to bring
the greatest of cheer this Christmas

For this Christmas we have each other
all together with not a one sick,
and that alone is what keeps a smile
on her face as she finally lays down to rest

Silence fills the small apartment with
the only sound being the steady breathing
of three little ones snuggled together
with their mother in the double bed

The snow still falls in the darkness
of the night but somehow it has changed
as full moonlight seems to turn each flake
into perfect crystals that sparkle magically

If one listened very closely they could hear
tiny bells moving through the air as if fairy
wings were playing the sweetest music that
could not be heard by the human ear

There is the faintest creak as the window is
raised by tiny hands and several giggling forms
slide quickly into the room bringing with them
just a little puff of cold, snowflake laden air

The men are all dressed in green fur jackets with
matching peaked hats and pants with black boots
that curled up at the toes while the ladies wear
red dresses with matching hats and the same boots

They went to work with as much silence as they could
but still one noticed that there was the sound
of tiny bells throughout the room and their faces
reflected such glee that their pointed ears twitched

There was a count of about two dozen of these
amazing tiny elves scattered throughout the room
and each had a small sack tied to their belt that
sparkled with each move they made as they danced around

With tinkles of delight they organized into groups
and went straight to work on all parts of the bare
room before them as all were given their assignments
and they scurried to complete the tasks given them

The ladies headed to the kitchen area, shaking their
heads with sadness then a tinkling broke out as each
lady reached into her pouch and with a toss of sparkling
dust transformed the small bare kitchen to one of beauty

The cupboard doors flew open and began to magically
fill with foods of every kind, both sweets, soups,
breads and boxes and cans of all manner of foods to
nourish and delight those who lived in this house

The fridge too flew open to reveal the small chicken waiting to be cooked on
the morrow yet even as one
watched it transformed into a wonderful turkey, stuffed
and prepared to be just popped into the waiting oven

The fridge filled with all that is needed for a family
to bring joy and fulfillment as fruit, juices, salad
and all manner of goods filled the shelves to
overflowing and the freezer almost burst it seams

The sparkling, clean counter came to life with all kinds
of sweet breads, Christmas cookies, chocolates
and pastries of a variety of kinds such as never
seen by this tiny family before for their cost was dear

With another sprinkle of magic dust the table was
set with a beautiful table cloth decorated with holly
and Christmas elves all along the edges and set with
plates and cutlery painted with Christmas trees

The ladies gathered round to inspect their handy work
and make sure nothing was missing, from the tiny
potatoes to the deep red Christmas punch which
was waiting in the fridge to bless this day of days

Then turning they showed their approval at what the men
had done with their assignments as they gazed with
delight upon the wonderfully decorated tree standing
in the center of the room with gifts pilled high under it

Garland was hanging beautifully around the room with silver
bells, stars, snowflakes, wreaths, and all manner of
Christmas decorations sparkled and twinkled on walls,
ceiling and doorways giving a festive, merry look

All smiled with delight at the four stockings stuffed and
hanging from a fireplace that now was piled high with
wood just waiting for the match to set the blaze to
burning that this cold room would crackle with warm cheer

Now for the final touch that will welcome Christmas
to this little family who had not thought to enjoy
the more sweet and delightful parts of a Christmas
where want and need could be put aside for a little time

Upon the mantle, next to the nativity that seemed to fill
the room with soft love of the gentlest kind, was a
music player waiting for the touch of magic that it could
sing forth with the song White Christmas and call all awake

As the first strains of music were heard the little elves
were slipping out the window but not to go too far
for they wanted to see the faces of little ones as
they gazed upon the magic that was to be revealed

In the bedroom the children, hearing the music, scrambled
from their beds to open the door on such a wonder that
their young eyes had never seen before and cried with
glee as they ran to their mother to wake and come see

Not awake yet but responding to the joyous voices of
her children she dragged herself from her bed to stand
in stunned silence in the doorway open onto the most
amazing site filled with things only her dreams could form

With her children pulling at her and explaining that
Santa had found them this year, she moved into a room
she no longer recognized as her own, for it was filled
with Christmas cheer and the sweet sounds of music

As the children danced around the room exclaiming over
all the wonderful things she turned to the window to see
that Christmas snow still fell and wondered if there
was really something true to the old tale her mother told

And if she had looked a little closer she would have seen two dozen tiny
faces gazing with total delight on the
scene of happy children watched over by a loving mother
whose eyes flowed with tears as she sent a prayer
of thanks to Heaven for The Magic Of Christmas Snow