Christmas Greeting

Merry Christmas to you, Boy!
    When you were a little chap
Tossing up your toes for joy,
    Rolling in your mother’s lap, –
Laughing with that little smile
    Which ran over you like light
In your sleep, as if the while
    Baby Angels were in sight, –
Then I sang you & your mother
    In a serious merry song –
Now I’ll put you in another
    Just as gay, but not so long.

Mamma, help me bless the Boy,
    As a mother only can,
Blooming of a sacred joy,
    Budding of the better Man.
Bless the Boy in every game,
    When he wakes & when he sleeps,

Bless his frolic heart the same,
    Though our own in secret weeps.
Bless the Baby all his days,
    Kiss it in him as he grows,
From his head, where sunlight plays,
    To his dimpled little toes!

Bless him in his roguish eye,
    In his little cherry lip
Full of kisses, which we buy
    Just by hugging Little Snip!
Bless his pretty cheek & brow,
    Plumping arms, & fingers fair,
And the wrinkle feet that now
    Patter, patter, everywhere!
Here’s a merry Christmas, Karl;
    Here’s a hug & here’s a kiss;
Bearded like a northern Jarl
    I, your Poet, send you this.