‘A Present Unclaimed’: A Christmas Poem by James A. Tweedie

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A Present Unclaimed

Under the tree is a present unclaimed
Paper and ribbon and bows, good to go.
Who is it for? “Who it’s from” isn’t named.
Where is the tag? No one here seems to know!

“Maybe,” Mom says, “There’s a misunderstanding.”
“Bet it’s a joke,” says young Rob with a frown.
“Somebody open it!” Papa’s demanding.
“Dinner is ready. It’s time to sit down.”

Mom says, “Relax, dear, the dinner can wait.”
“Look,” Papa says, “We’ve been opening stuff
“Since we got up at a quarter to eight.
“It’s almost Noon, so enough is enough!”

“Thanks for the presents,” says Rob with groan,
“Christmas is over, I’m ready to eat.”
“First,” Papa says, “put away your iPhone.
“Then, when it’s off, we can all take a seat.”

“No!” shouted Susie, who just has turned ten,
“Open the present first, see what’s inside.”
“Okay,” said Papa, “Let’s do it, but then
“Dinner is served, and I’m fit to be tied!”.

“Oh, I forgot,” interrupted Rob, blurting.
“There is a football game starting at Noon.
“Let’s see if Kelse and Swifty are flirting;
“Which player’s face looks most like a raccoon!”

“Don’t be sarcastic!” says Mom with a grin.
“You can’t stand football, you say that it’s dumb.”
“All of this talk’s getting under my skin,”
Papa says, downing a short shot of rum.

Susie is frowning, “The present is waiting!
“Forget the football! Just open it up.”
“Okay,” says Rob, with a voice that is grating.
“Maybe a kitten’s inside, or a pup.”

Rob tears the bow, then the ribbon’s untied.
Rips off the paper and lifts up the lid.
“Empty!” Rob cries, “Only paper inside,
“Wait! I found something that someone has hid!

“What did you find?” Papa asks. “Who’s it for?”
“Hold it up higher,” Mom says. “Let me see!”
“It’s only Jesus,” Rob sighs. “Nothing more.
“Part of our manger scene by the TV.”

“Who would put Jesus inside of a box?”
Rob is confused. Susie says, “It was me.
“Sweaters and underwear, t-shirts and socks,
“Can’t take the place of what Christmas should be!”

“I took him out from the creche yesterday.
“None of you noticed that Jesus was gone,
“None of you noticed last night or today.
“And we’ve been up since this morning at dawn!

“Not only that, no one’s mentioned his name!
“Might as well lock him outside the front door.
“Jesus—left out as if he never came!
“We’ve all forgotten what Christmas is for!”

Papa turns red, not with anger, but shame.
“Susie,” he says, “you have done the right thing.
“Christmas is not about watching a game.
“Christ is the reason the angel choirs sing.”

So, ‘round the table, each holding a hand,
Bowing their heads, Papa offers a prayer:
“God bless this food; help us all understand
“Christmas is Christmas when Jesus is there.”

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James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and four collections of poetry including Sidekicks, Mostly Sonnets, and Laughing Matters, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in both print and online media. He was honored with being chosen as the winner of the 2021 SCP International Poetry Competition.