From my poetry page in my website
You can’t light the tree till Christmas eve
mother would exclaim
Jesus wasn’t borne till holy Christmas day
And the tree remained
till three kings were well upon their way
On the feast of Holy Family
the Sunday after Three Kings Day
Then it was taken down
and only then was it hauled away
The tree placed in front window
for all to see
Strung with popcorn
and cranberries on on threaded line
and garlands of tinsel had to be
But first the lights
checking bulbs making sure they were seen
Then leaded icicles
that dad would toss with glee
The tree sat in the window till Holy Family day
Those who were missed were seen throughout those days
and especially on Three Kings (Jan 6th)
We called it Little Christmas day
those who missed their gifts
The paperboy,the mailman,
not forgotten on Little Christmas day
On This “Little Christmas”
January 6th
Once Upon a Time and not too long ago
The Twelfth Night Of Christmas
was celebrated with a ball
From the Day of Babes Birth
and the 11 thereafter
kith and kin were paid a visit
and friends from far and near
once were paid a call
So on this day I pray in the spirit that this date recalls
Let the gift of homage of kings gain
in the spirit of the days this season yet remain
ere it wane
Be thine Blessings Great
and misfortunes thee none befall
moses@maqs.net
http://www.theusmat.com/natdesk.htm
I apologize I did a poor job of excerpting my first poem The Christmas Tree from my trilogy that as it appears in my website, This is the way it reads there;
Christmas Eve, The Tree,and Epiphany (Little Christmas) JAN 6TH
The Christmas Tree
You can’t decorate or light the tree till Christmas eve mother would exclaim
“Jesus wasn’t born till holy Christmas day”
So it was as we strung ,
the popcorn and cranberries, on threaded line
But first the lights,testing all the bulbs,
to see if they worked fine
Only then could we decorate our tree
With lead icicles that dad would toss with glee
and Silvery garlands and ornaments
that grandma gave to me
A sentinel for the season a witness for all to see
Announcing the birth of Christ,
Observing the days of saga yet to be
Circumcision,Epiphany ,the Egypt flight
liturgically recalled
In home’s creche site
where figurines
with solemnity installed
Those who were missed were seen throughout
or remembered on “Little Christmas”
So the paperboy,the mailman,and others
conclude Epiphany without a doubt
As Three kings passed by a week,
and nobles well upon their way
The tree was still there,
And up till The Holy Family day*
When young Jesus found in temple speaking ,
celebration fleeting
Now.On to some very serious teaching
as the tree was taken down