A Christmas Gift

‘What will you buy when Christmas comes

To show me your love, dear heart?

Will you fill my bower with fruit and flowers

To enjoy while we’re apart?

Will you buy the things that you promised me,

Like a bangle for my wrist,

Or a diamond, topaz, sapphire ring,

Or a giant amethyst?’

 

He stood, head down and he held her hand

As she lay so pale in the bed,

He didn’t tell her his job was lost

Or what his employer said.

There were charges he would have to face

That would fill her heart with gloom,

That by Christmas Day he would be away

And not be returning soon.

 

‘I’d rather give you the crescent Moon

As a coronet, dear Tess,

And pluck the stars from the Milky Way

As sequins for your dress,

Then call on the Charioteer, my dear

For your transport to the heights,

Where the gods will fall on their knees to bless

This glimpse of paradise.’

 

She smiled, then faded away to sleep

And dream of a ghostly tower,

Where her prince stood long at the battlements

At the height of a fateful hour,

An army lay in the fields about

In a siege for her, no less,

‘We’ve come for the Queen of Golders Green,

And we won’t leave without Tess!’

 

While he sat bowed in a lonely cell

And wept at his sense of loss,

He’d only needed another month

And the price would be worth the cost,

He’d not be there when she needed him

As she glided out through the door,

The Judge fixed him with a puzzled eye,

‘Just who was the coffin for?’

 

On Christmas Eve she awoke before

Her heart pit-pattered and stopped,

Her fading eyes had looked to the door

Along with her hopes, they dropped.

But in her hair was a crescent Moon

And stars were all over her dress,

While a Charioteer came into the room,

‘I’ve a chariot here, for Tess!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Robert Lindsay]

David - I had taken a break away from writers cafe - except to post copies of poems from another site. You're still one of my favorite poets. The pathos is tangible here and the charm of your work is that you always transport the reader into your frame of mind. You show a deep understanding of people and you're so skilled in storytelling with wisdom to share. Always a pleasure to read your poems but this one was quite touching. Love will do anything it has to.. and the messages of the heart do get through in a mystical yet convincing way in your works.

[Tate Morgan]

Well we may disapoint our better half at times But it is when we dispoint ourselves that we lament most

[Bob Sherunkle]

Stunning Mr Paget,simply stunning

[icelandicblue]

I can honestly say that this poem was exquisitely sad and beautifully structured. There is no sacrifice too great for someone we love.

[Baby Ricochet]

Man and I thought Christmas was f**ked up the year I was in the Al Anbar province

[Daniel Sala]

Almost brought tears to my eyes, heart-breaking, a truly beautiful poem, pathos to a 'T' or 'P' more accurately. The poor guy you can't help liking who commits a crime for love/compassion and can't even be where he needs to at the right moment because of it, and the poor lady in her final hour who waits in hope not knowing, nice touch that the day is saved from hopeless sadness with that last verse.
Like some old beer advert slogan, but much better: reaches parts other draughts don't... Marvellous indeed.

[Raya]

This poem was stunning. I was so heartbroken at the ending. What a wonderful story.

[Marie]

THis is just lovely David, and I almost cried. What wonderful, priceless gifts were hers after all...

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

To sacrifice everything out of love, to risk your very freedom to give your love a final resting place, is a love that is spirit bound. I've actually known and seen first hand some of the nicest people fall to ruin for the very same.

In particular, one man that I know, who was in a managerial position with a doctorate, embezzled funds to pay for experimental drugs for his wife's cancer treatment, which was not covered by his insurance. Sadly, in my position as an auditor, I discovered the crime.

Unfortunately, he lost his job because of this; and I felt just horrible about it. I honestly felt like someone had kicked me in the gut. He was one of the nicest people, and everyone just loved him. While my compassionate heart felt for him in that situation, the reasoned mind had to report the crime.

When asked how he felt about what happened, he said, "Now that the barn has burned down, I can see the stars." I think he had been longing to leave his position anyway but felt trapped by the circumstances. In the end, all worked out for the best for him; and he was able to gain another position more to his liking.

It's really sad in the poem that he was so close; and yet, so far from obtaining what he needed for her; and because of this, he wasn't there for her in her dying moment. His last gift to her were his words. He gave her a crescent moon for her hair, stars for her dress, and a charioteer to transport her to the heavens.

I love you how you ended the poem with the sadness of her death, along with the beauty of his words, his wishes for her because that's all he had to give.

What a touching tribute to love!