Julie Benson Special Holiday Poem

The Night Before Christmas

by Julie Benson

It's the eve before Christmas; I'm half-starved tonight.
I can't afford presents or turkey or tripe.
I stuff Sunday comics beneath my thin coat
To keep out the chill from my chest and my throat.

I used to be solvent, who knew it would end?
I shared my good fortune with strangers and friends.
Then illness engulfed me; the bills were too high.
My former life vanished, a new one was nigh.

I shiver and chatter, chilled deep with the strife
And think once again about ending my life.
Beyond me the shoppers all scurry around,
Oblivious to anguish, to cries without sound.

I walk to the Mission for soup and a bun
But there's not enough food to feed everyone.
So I give up my bowl to a man without sight
And share my small bun with a girl on my right.

Then a rheumy old guy, all crumpled and lame
Sits down by my side with his hat and his cane.
He beams up at me with a smile of elation,
And shows me a card for an organ donation.

"This way," says the guy, "if I happen to die,
Some person can live, can get another try.
Only trouble is, these old bones ain't much good;
They'll probably reject me when they look under the hood."

"It's OK," I replied, "It's the spirit that counts
And you just never know who you may have helped out."
Then he flourished his bowl and his bun in the air
And shared the small meal with two more people there.

Back out in the snow, I shivered with fear
At the prospect of spending another night here.
But the generous spirit of the frail, broken don
Gave me true joy at Christmas, and the strength to go on.


     This poem is dedicated to blood and organ donors everywhere,
     and to those who give up Christmas Day each year to volunteer
     at the missions to help the sick and homeless.  You are special.
                                                 -- Julie Benson

© Copyright 1999 by Julie Benson, all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reprint this poem provided a. no charge is made for its distribution, b. no changes are made, and c. the author is credited as Julie Benson, humor columnist and novelist.