I peeked out of my curtain, twas Christmas Eve, you know.

And glanced about to see the night blanketed in snow.

I listened then for sleigh bells, but didn’t hear a one

Resolved to stay awake that night and not miss all the fun.

All wrapped up in a sweater, my elbows on the sill

I kept my eyes wide open hoping for the thrill.

The thrill of seeing Santa and his tiny reindeer eight

So I sat there at the window determined just to wait.

The snowman had his back to me, we’d built him in the day.

And adorned him there quite fancily with Grandpa’s old toupee.

His thin stick arms reach to the stars, his carrot nose is froze

I thought I saw him move a bit, but didn’t, I suppose.

It began to snow just then, twas only half past ten.

And I know I closed my eyes just once and maybe once again.

I blinked because I thought I saw a shadow pass on by

And maybe just a glimmering go dashing through the sky.

The clock stuck twelve, I’d been asleep. I raised my tired head.

And looked again out thru the glass and saw a splash of red.

I pulled on my galoshes and ran out in the snow

I had to take a closer look just so I would know.

The snowman smiled his friendly smile, it seemed he winked at me.

But the Santa hat upon his head is what I’d come to see.

I lifted it with reverence, could this really be his cap?

Oh why did I have to close my eyes and take that little nap?

It’s then I finally noticed a note addressed to me.

It was there upon the snowman’s head where the toupee used to be.

Seems Santa made a trade that night in my yard right there

Trading me his velvet cap for Grandpa’s old white hair.

Now Grandpa was not too happy, but never said a word.

He even commented to me about the sleigh bells he had heard.

So I believed I have to say and still do to this day.

Even though I didn’t see him, his reindeer or his sleigh.

Years later Grandpa left us. He went on to his reward.

And I was going tenderly thru some things that he had stored.

Tis then I found that old toupee wrapped up in tissue white.

And how I wished for one more trade on one more winter night.

12/18/2005