Christmas Past by Francine

A tattered dress she wore
On every holiday
Always wanted something new
Especially this day

Christmas Eve was special time
She wanted just to be
Like all the other kids
Who dressed so beautifully

When evening arrived
Time for her to dress
Saw what she was wearing
All very neatly pressed

Her eyes were filled with tears
Knew what time was spent
To make this dress look special
So she tried to be content

She fixed her hair all neat on top
Placed ribbons for some flair
Mom and Dad were waiting
When they saw her standing there

They said you look so beautiful
She smiled and felt so shy
Tried so hard wipe away
The tears that she had cried

Walking toward the church
Now friends and family met
Greeting all with such great joy
So filled with happiness

Everyone had compliments
For her neat but tattered dress
She felt so very special
Knew her heart was blessed

As long as she remembered
She loved this season best
Always took some time see
Sweet Jesus in His crèche

Mother Mary next to Son
Dressed in swaddling cloth
Realized the beauty of
This miracle love brought

As they were walking home
In the beauty of the night
This little girl looked up to Mom
She said with much delight

Thank you for my dress
I looked so nice and new
I felt so very proud today
All because of you

She realize that Jesus was
Dressed in swaddling cloth
That Mother Mary loved Him so
She wrapped Him in her warmth

Jesus smiled so pretty
In His crib that was so bare
Mattress made of straw
His Mommy's love aware

I'll never feel ungrateful
For anything I own
Cause it is given to me with love
Such tenderness was shown

That beauty is not in value
Of things that people see
It's in the heart that loves someone
That gives joy constantly

On Christmas when she woke up
She was filled with so much glee
Found a box with ribbons tied
Underneath their tree

When she opened up the box
Her eyes just looked above
Mom and Dad smiled down on her
This gift was all their love

A dress of velvet and of lace
To light her pretty face
This gift that she was given was
Designed with so much grace

She put the red dress on
She danced so merrily
This was greatest Christmas
That ever was to be

She never will outgrow this dress
It's where her love is traced
Forever she'll remember gift
That can never be replaced

Her heart made of this velvet
Her soul made of the lace
This treasury of memories
Is love that she embraced.

~ Francine Pucillo~

" Francine with her sister Lorraine "