A sunless day, only grey paints the sky.
Christmas eve, a thin snow-carpet with a sigh.
Wind swirling up, a chilling edged knife to its bite.
Casts a pall on what might have been right.
In a woollen jacket, jeans worn through at the knees,
Joseph Tiller trudges to the barn, dragging his ladder without ease.
A gait without sprite, his head hung low,
thinking of Christmas a long time ago.
Several barnboards
pushed out by the wind,
must be replaced,
before the storm is within.
Milkshed structure adhered to the barn.
Tools, and boards, he hoped for a yarn.
Slowly, resolutely, to the roof he climbs.
To size up a job he’s done oftentimes.
An hour passed; last board nailed in place.
“Job completed! It is a coup de grace! “
Down the roof he measured his pace
toward the arms of the ladder reaching out to embrace.
Wind at his back wanting a race.
Sleet’s sudden sharp prongs stab at his face!
Footing lost! He becomes displaced.
“Oh, no!” He screams out, now unbraced.
Like a toboggan (rigid on his back),
slides clear of the roof: Bushwhack!
Slams hard with a pound!
“OOF!” Expelled!
Hell bound!
Time passes,
How long? Stuck in molasses.
Face up, chilled to the bone.
Snow-dressed, he’s ready to enthrone.
Breathing painful, yet frantically grasps for his phone.
Sadly, a whispered ghost thought left at home.
Voices call his name, he’s unable to claim.
Energized wind slides snow sideways,
sheets upon sheets across fields.
A mound, no headstone, to herald this phase.
Only hope, faith his shields.
Wandering a barren dreamscape,
ghostly echoes oscillated round,
Their Doppler effects strong.
Lifted. Weightless.
His being felt shapeless.
A slammed door.
Harried voices galore.
A jab in the arm,
His mind drifts to a candy store.
When his eyes reopened, nurses attended,
while his family looked on apprehended.
Teardrops formed at the corner of each eye.
“Where am I?” he enquired, by and by.
“In hospital.” Was his daughter’s reply.
“Has Christmas come and gone?”
“No, dad,” his son said. “It has just arrived with best gift of all. Amon!”
So, there is Joseph Tiller’s Christmas miracle.
And the best gift of all?
Why him of course!
And family wrapped in the unconditional warmth of love.
Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to all!