Dear Santa

There are times when I set out to write something and then midway a special kind of inspiration takes over and I end up with something entirely different. This poem is a perfect example of this phenomenon.

For some time I had been thinking about writing a Christmas poem, something light and humorous to read during the festivities Christmas Eve. I had all sorts of great ideas and could hardly wait to find the time to sit down and get started. I thought that I would like to write a poem about a grown man writing to Santa Claus for "one more" Christmas wish. I was going to have him ask for all the things that an adult would think that only Santa could bring. You know the kind of stuff I mean: a shower without your wife socks hanging in it or a shelf in your closet that has just your things on it, all of those magic things that a married man knows will never be possible while his wife lives.

Well, Saturday afternoon I was on my way to pick up a video for the family to watch that night. As I was driving along I got to thinking about the poem and the words started going through my mind. "Dear Santa Claus, remember me?" Suddenly I knew that I had it. I hurried home and locked myself in my office and sat down at the word processor and started writing down the words as they came. I got about 3 or 4 verses into the poem and it happened. That special kind of inspiration took over and before I knew it, what started out as a joke took a whole new twist and this poem was the result.

I think that my sense of right and wrong simply would not let me have a character abuse the magic of Santa Claus. Santa Claus is that special magic that only happens at Christmas time and it is reserved for the world of children. Once an adult leaves the magic realms of childhood, he has no business trying to sneak back and use the magic for his own selfish purposes. But it did seem like it was OK for him to ask the jolly old elf for a special favor for his son. At least that is what this character thought. He was a bit worried about some of the things that he had taught his son or perhaps failed to teach him. But when you try to pass the buck to someone as old and

wise as Santa Claus, you usually don't get what you ask for, but what you deserve.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

2 February 1989

Dear Santa

Dear Santa Claus, remember me?

When I was just a boy,

You filled my sock with happiness

And brought me Christmas joy.

You brought me trains with shiny wheels,

A whistle that would blow.

And calendars of far away,

Lands of ice and snow.

But now I've grown into a man,

My toys are put away.

I toil from dawn 'til late at night

To earn my daily pay.

And even though I'm not a child,

I thought you might take heed,

Of one more present 'neath the tree,

Fill one more Christmas need.

Oh no, kind sir it's not for me,

This present that I ask.

It's for my son on Christmas eve,

I beg of you this task.

You see it's like this dear Santa Claus,

Through all of his young life,

He's never had to go without

Or had to deal with strife.

He's never known what hunger was

Or what it's like to sleep,

Without a bed or blankets warm,

Or shoes upon his feet.

I've given him all he could ask

And kept him warm at night,

But now I fear it's not enough,

To help him win the fight.

He needs to care how others live

And how they deal with pain,

He needs to love the motherless,

The halt, the deaf, and lame.

His sight must point above the earth

Above the cares of men.

Yet have a love for all mankind,

Not just for kith and kin.

So Santa Claus it's you I ask,

Can charity be found,

Among the gifts in your great pack,

You scatter all around?

What's that you say? I greatly err,

It's not a gift to give?

It's how he's seen me live my life?

It's how he's learned to live?

Love of man is not a thing

That's found beneath a tree.

It's how you live from day to day,

And what you've grown to be.

So as we celebrate this time

And sing of Christmas cheer,

Love one another as you would

Love Christ if he were here.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger

20 December 1988