If you ever spent a christmas Down the back roads on a farm, Seen the old familiar landscape Transformed by a winter storm.

Heard the crackle of a fireplace Throwing out a ruddy glow, Shining through the nearest window On a soft new-fallen snow.

Heard a driving, savage North wind Howl and moan out in the night, While the family, warm and cozy Sits around the fire-place light

Saw the fire wood stacked in shelter, Food brought in and put away, Ready for the special dinner On this snowy Christmas Day

Smelled the scent of fresh cut cedar, Seeping from the Christmas tree, You are just as close to heaven As a mortal man can be.

John L. Gwaltney

Another year has come and gone Its Christmas time again Tis the Season of good tidings With peace and good will to Men.

The cities glow with christmas lights, The bells ring loud and clear, The shoppers crowd the Market place, And music fills the air.

And mid the din my thoughts stray back, To the years when I was young. Back to the little country church Where Christmas carols were sung.

To the sleigh rides on the snow packed road On a clear, cold Christmas night. How we could see the neighbors home, By the yellow coal oil light.

How we warmed by a big wood burning stove, You could feel the Christmas here, So different from the modern day, When we buy our Christmas cheer.

I lived the old and lived the new They seem so far apart, But everyone has Christmas, If they have Chrismas in their heart.

John L. Gwaltney