St. Stephen's Day

All year you were doing it

And refused to tell me why.

Each coin given in change

Was dropped into the empty coffee can

And by July, another can was needed.

December brought the Christmas tree

That you decorated with care

And when I asked what gift you wanted

You were annoyed

“We’re not buying anything,” you announced

With that special tone of finality.

Christmas night we sat together

Under blankets on the sofa

And you were happy

And I was lost in awe.

On December 26 you leapt from bed

And shook me awake.

“It’s Saint Stephen’s Day!” you proclaimed

Playfully poking your finger into my side

“Saint who?” I asked.

So all the coins were poured from the cans,

Counted and divided into packages

Of equal amounts before you pulled me

Onto the streets and into dismal alleys

“This is Charlotte,” you told me

And gave her one of the packaged coins.

“This is Thomas,” you later said

And presented him with another of the packages.

You knew all of their names

And I couldn’t understand how

These residents of alleys and park benches and bushes

Were known to you like old friends

I even noticed that Thomas was wearing

That sweater I was missing from the closet

“In Italy,” you told me, holding my face

Within your hands.

“St. Stephen’s Day is a time of giving.

Isn’t it wonderful?”

And in that moment I didn’t know

If the day was wonderful

I only knew that you were.

Reviews

[Owlgirl]

Wow! Great job!
It is an amazing gift to be able to give and not feel the desire to recieve anything for yourself and is somthing today's society really needs to work on. The she in the poem is truly wonderful.
Wonderful write. :)

[luviva]

yeh, she was for she had big enough to give away and care not to receive.
just loved this poem, concept so strong needed to be learnt in communities but you delivered it qith such easiness...
love your work!!

[DrD]

And I love your visits, luviva. Thanks again.

[Eve]

She sounds like an amazing woman, this is so heartwarming, It's almost st. Stephens day again, God bless and make it beautiful for you.

[DrD]

That she was, Myth . . . . thank you for reading and enjoying.

[Ruth]

Oh yes! Educational as well as emotive :)
You know, this year, I have been looking into not celebrating Christmas, I usually celebrate Yule, being Pagan to be honest...however, I want to spend Christmas or Boxing Day helping the homeless...there is a shelter near here that you can volunteer to help in...
I think that is my path to tread this year...
This resonates and told so beautifully...wonderful piece! :)

[DrD]

We always spent Christmas just being together and the real fun came on St. Stephen's Day. We never gave each other gifts because we never felt like we needed anything. The Italians say that giving something you don't need isn't really giving. It's when you give something you need that it has real meaning.

[Ruth]

Agree :)

[Emberlorna]

Awwww.. a very, very, very heart touching poem. It was expressed so eloquently and projected an almost movie perfect scene in my head. Beautiful job :}

[DrD]

Thanks, Ember, I truly appreciate your visit here.

[Sheila Kline]

It is a great gift to be the benefactor of one who has a heart as this!! I am reminded a bit of "The Christmas Jars" - one of my favorite stories of giving gifts of love, and so I add to my list, this poem of your lovely memory of how a particular St. Stephen's Day became a "forever" part of your holiday. How blessed are you in knowing such a person (or of knowing from the reviews I read given prior to mine). Memories as this never fade!!
And, oh yes........Happy St. Stephen's Day!!!!

[DrD]

Thank you, Shiela, those were the best of times . . . .

[william keepers]

This is truly the spirit of giving! Exchanging gifts among "haves' is nice, but this is what it's all about. Thanks for writing this Dr.D and Happy St. Stephen's Day!

[DrD]

Thanks to you, William. I am grateful for your comments.

[Ed Fagan]

At the very least Saint Stephen’s Day offers a more honest and true idea of what a holiday should be. So much more so then the preceding day. This highlights a somewhat lost celebration. Isn't it sad that while in our ignorance we had some much wonder ... it's only when we are shown light that we start to lose our eyesight. Very well written.

[DrD]

Thank you, Ed. I appreciate you.

[Ravyne Hawke]

This is not only a great poem, it is a wonderful story of giving and nurturing others. The last 3 lines really do speak volumes.. to love someone like that must be amazing.

[DrD]

To be loved like that is even better, Lori.

[David Scott]

What a wonderful person! Wow!
I understand more...

[DrD]

Yeah, she was . . . .