The tree’s too small and tends to fall
The angel’s tattered most of all
The lights don’t work, the garlands drop
But in this home it’s Christmas.
**
The Christmas gifts aren’t quite wrapped yet
The puppy peed, the floor got wet
(That smell we sniffed was a sure bet)
But in this home, it’s Christmas.
**
The snow outside is fluffy and bright
The turkey’s cooked and it’s done right
The baked ham glistens in candlelight
And in this home, it’s Christmas.
**
This house has seen a hundred years
Of laughter, hopes and even tears
Of festive times and warmth and grace
And joy and peace at Christmas.
**
We wish you warmth, we wish you love
Peace landing gently as a dove
We wish you rest, we wish you joy
In your good home, this Christmas.
Poem Written by Cynthia Reyes, December 2013.
All photos by Hamlin Grange.
Cynthia Reyes 
Great poem! The best Christmas is not perfect! I am sure yours will be just right. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you.
My best wishes for a happy and healthy Christmas and new year.
Lovely poem, Cynthia..Thank you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
Thank you. I wish you the same.
I nominated your blog for the one lovely blog award – please check my post is you wish to accept.
Happy Christmas , blessings on your Home and family ❄️
Thank you! Blessings on your family and home too.
I like it! Merry Christmas!
And to you and yours, kind Sir!
Beautiful poem, holiday wishes and word play Cynthia. And thanks for the reminder to roll with life and the imperfections. Holiday blessings and cheer to you and yours my friend! 🙂
Thank you. I just read and enjoyed your Christmas poem too, Brad.
I’m happy to be part of your holidays! 🙂
Love your poem Cynthia and the pictures are great! Merry Christmas to you Cynthia my friend and all your family! 🙂
And to you and your loved ones, Michael. We’ll share Christmas stories through our blog, Deo Volente.
So lovely! Merry Christmas 🙂
Thank you. Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Wishing you all the warmth you share this Christmas. Lots of light and love…
Thank you, Margaret, for your good wishes.
May I wish you the same? I like the idea of “light and love” always, and especially these days.
I love your poem. Remember it’s the imperfect Christmases that year after year are remembered. Family and friends enjoy “remember when” and tell of mistakes, accidents, and imperfections of Christmases past. Laughter and memories are an important part of Christmas and families.
I wish you ad Hamlin a memorable, happy, and blessed Christmas and God’s richest blessings in the new year.
Georgeina, I am so thankful for your good wishes and for this lovely note.
Bless you, my dear.
We’re wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas, and w healthy and rewarding new year.
Cynthia.
Your poem made me laugh as we have all been there in that very place. I harken back to the year our dog opened a box of chocolates under the tree & devoured them. Of course his over indulgence soon returned two fold! Needless to say after the clean up not much chocolate was consumed that year. I hope you will find yourself lost in our little community again in 2015. By the way the Ebor House has sold & the old walls will have new life within them again. David & I wish you & yours a very happy CHRISTMAS & may the New Year bring Good Heath & wonderful Times!
Love
Sandra
How lovely to hear from you, Sandra, and our very best to you and David and family.
Dogs and chocolates: oh dear.
Good news about Ebor House.A lovely place, deserving of loving owners.
Thanks for the good wishes, Sandra.
The very best to you and Hamlin and wishing you all that is good for 2015!
Thank you, Gail, and the very best to you, Sam and family. I shall think of your garden this winter, and it will help keep me warm!
Perfect poem and a perfect Christmas…and as a doglover, puppy pee is quite a nice Christmas smell…soon to be trumped by that turkey and ham;0) Happy Hollidays for you and your loved ones, xoxo Johanna
You’re a funny girl, Johanna. Puppy pee, a nice smell?
Hah!
Here’s hoping that Christmas was lovely and wishing you and yours a great 2015.
Merry Christmas, Cynthia to you and all in your circle of love. Have a wonderful 2015.
Thank you so much! Wishing you an excellent new year, and I hope your Christmas was lovely.
What a nice expression of Christmas — sounds like some similar Christmases I have had with the family. This year is going to be a bit odd, but I am hoping it will turn out ok — after all, Christmas doesn’t havfe to be perfect, as you point out. 🙂
Very much looking forward to blogging and reading yours in 2015…here’s to health and joy and (semi)sanity in the New Year!
❤ Rose ((hugs))
Thanks for the hugs, Rosa. I’m wishing you health and joy, and continued courageous writing.
Merry Christmas! The poem reflects most people’s experiences.
You’re probably right. And it’s only when we get past the need for perfection, and surrender to the beauty of the imperfections, that we can have that peace and joy we wish for. Gosh, it took me years to figure that out…..
Wishing you a healthy year of excellent adventures including those on your blog, which I enjoy reading.
Lovely post and a lovely poem. A very happy Christmas to you both Cynthia and health and happiness for 2015
Thanks for this, Chloris. I’m wishing you health and good times in the year ahead – including lots of garden adventures — and I hope your Christmas was splendid.
May the spirit of Christmas visit every home.Merry Christmas.
Thank you. I hope your Christmas was joyful.
Yes ,thanks God it was wonderful with family.Thank you for the reply.Jaalal
Our imperfectly perfect Christmas is over. Boxing Day dawn will soon be here. Joy to the World and to you in particular. 🙂
Welcome back!
Hoping all is well.
Joy to the world indeed.
Thank you.
Happy boxing day.
(And did they ever figure out the origins of Boxing Day? Was it when the rich people would hand out boxes to their servants, or give alms to the poor, or just the day when the boxes from Christmas presents were put away?
Speak, Wise One.
I think the origins of Boxing Day will always be part of the mystery of Christmas. 😉
Hah. Welcome home. Are you back home?
I am back home today!
Cynthia, you have outdone yourself with this poem. Thank you.
Merry Christmas, to you and your family, too!
Double thanks, Aggie.
I hope you and Lou are having a happy Christmas too.
A lovely poem! You are such a talented lady! I hop your Christmas Day has been happy and trouble-free. Ours is all over now – I’m tired but can’t sleep!
I’m the same. Just finished washing up and putting things away.It’s a painkiller night, so maybe the medication will kick in soon.
It was a lovely, quiet, day.
We go to church on Christmas Eve, which is a big deal in our family, so more and more, we try to keep the actual day of Christmas low-key. Tomorrow extended family will arrive for the big dinner, and the house will be full of laughter and storytelling.
Hope the painkillers worked and you got some rest. Christmas Day is fun and I wouldn’t not have it for the world but it is so tiring no matter how low-key. I hope you are revived and refreshed and all ready for the family dinner! Take it easy and don’t over-do things. Much love Cxx
Hope you don’t think I’m hopping!
Well, some days you have to move so fast that maybe you are hopping!
Happy Boxing Day! It is the day in the olden days when the wealthy handed out gift boxes of money and clothing to their servants and others in their service. Have a lovely celebration dinner, fun and laughter!
That sounds logical. Maybe I ought to watch Downton Abbey more closely and see if the Crawley family does this, what with all their many loyal servants…… Happy new year, dear Lee.
You have a tattered angel, too?! Ours has been in the family for 60+ years and she’s definitely showing her age. 🙂 Love the photo of your decorated dining room. It’s warm and inviting. Get well and stay well, Cynthia. We have a new year full of possibilities awaiting us!
Tattered angels all have their stories, I think. 60+ years is remarkable and a wonder-full thing, Eric. Wow.
I like your wish: get well and stay well. Thank you, Eric, and I’m wishing you a year of health and great moments, and please continue sharing your wise insights and suggestions on your blog.
I too have a tattered angel. 🙂 Eric chose it his first Christmas, so I would never trade her in. This is a beautiful post, Cynthia. I especially love the dining room shot. Gorgeous, cozy, and filled with warmth. Wanted to wish you a wonderful New Year filled with peace, happiness, good health and all the beautiful things you wish for. ((HUGS))
I’m glad to hear about your tattered angel, Elizabeth. And that it holds special memories for your family.
I love that dining room too. It’s small, but with soaring walls and windows, it feels special, especially at Christmas.
Thanks for your good wishes, Elizabeth. I’m wishing you the same, for you and your loved ones.
Says it all quite beautifully 🙂 Who wants a perfect Christmas anyway? Where would the laughter come from? Better health in the New Year must have been top of the wish list, Cynthia. I wish it for you too 🙂
Thank you, Jo. I appreciate this kind wish. And I’ll be hopping around with you on your travels, journeying vicariously. Keep traveling and posting!
Lovely photos, lovely sentiments. Thanks, Cynthia!
Jeanne
You are very welcome.
And thank you.
What an adorable selfie! 🙂
Isn’t it? One of my faves, too, Jackie.
Reblogged this on Cynthia Reyes and commented:
Merry Christmas to you all. Poem written two years ago, but I hope it makes you smile.
Oh, it did make me smile! Each of us experiences Christmas with our own quirks . . . and that makes it Christmas!
Yes, indeed, Kerry. How was Christmas Day?
I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas so far Cynthia!
It’s been lovely, Clare. I hope yours has been too.
Yes thank-you Cynthia! I am so pleased all that cooking is over with – it is so tiring but very satisfying when it all turns out fine! We had a lovely service at church this morning celebrating the feast day of St John.