Up out of deep and troubled sleep

The ghost of Christmas faces came

And in the gloom beside my bed

With ghostly murmur called my name.

“Behold,” it said, and bony finger

Pointed to its glowing head

Where that my steadfast gaze beheld

Chilled through my soul with awful dread.

For, lo, within its cloak’ed hood

How constantly its faces chang’d;

Each for an instant came and went

And baleful look’d, as if estranged

From all remembered love and care,

And all were wistful, solemn grown,

Though some were children, some adult,

Each face was someone I had known.

 

“Dread spirit, who are you,” I cried,

And fearful trembled on my bed

As if but one the faces spoke:

“I am your friends,” the spirit said.

“Each one of us has known you long;

Though time and friendship have we shared,

While we were mortal, passing by,

We took for granted that we cared.

“We did not take the fleeting time

Required to say ‘You are my friend,’

To just acknowledge that we cared

While time passed by to certain end.”

“What matter that?” I cried at last,

“You are my friends, I know you well;

We’ve shared in that unspoken way

Of brotherhood one need not tell.”

Still yet more faces came and went;

The spirit heaved a baleful sigh:

“Now some are dead,” it simply said,

“You took for granted, as did I.”

 

Then like a sword that pierced my mind

Did awful understanding come:

Such simple gifts I seldom gave!

And comprehension left me numb.

“Oh, Spirit of all Friends,” I asked,

“It’s not too late for those who live!

Can I redeem such oversight

With simple words I’ve yet to give?”

Then subtly did the faces change;

While yet they fleetingly pass’d by

Each one possessed a radiant smile,

And friendly warmth shown from each eye.

The spirit’s glow expanded then,

A blinding light that fill’d my room;

I think I swooned; the next I knew

Was morning sun in richest bloom

Full streaming through my window sash;

From bed I leaped and threw it wide,

Thrust out my head in childlike joy,

I could not wait to get outside.

 

For I had friends that I must see,

So many friends that I must tell

“How glad I am that you’re my friend!”

This Christmas, Friend, I’ll tell it well.

The Phantom Poet, Christmas 1988

 

Preface—July 29, 1988

I never know in advance what’s going to inspire the penning of a poem—or just as often, a prose. But I always know when the time is right, because the thing flows out virtually effort free, a sort of mind dump that arrives as an unexpected gift. If I try to force one out on command it seldom works out as well.

Likewise, the subject of such literary foray usually comes as a surprise to me. The urge may involve a person, place, thing or feeling. Persons rank highest in this regard. A substantial majority of my spontaneous writings, many too personal for public sharing, are dedicated to people. Inspiration comes most often from the lovely people I know, friends who enrich life’s meaning.