I sought invigoration as I closed the door behind.
A simple walk around the block was all I had in mind.
I sauntered down the sidewalk, didn’t mind the chilly air
And hummed a song heard recently, I didn’t have a care.

As I approached the corner where a crowd had gathered round,
Each and every person had their eyes upon the ground.
I gently shouldered forward to the front part of the crowd
And as I got there, heard a sound, it wasn’t very loud.

A small disconsolate whimpering, not quite an actual sob
Caused by a tiny being at the center of the mob.
It didn’t seem to be afraid but shivered with some tears
I smiled and put my hand outstretched, subduing my own fears.

It only stood but two feet high, in tunic green and red
A silver bell topped stocking hat, skewed sideways on its’ head.
Tiny shoes of velvet, silver buckles, turned up toes
Coal black shiny eyes set close to rosy button nose.

I knew I’d come across an elf and wished to hear the tale
Of how it came it came to be here, and why its’ brow so pale.
The plucky, spritely figure let a smile creep ‘cross its’ face
And once it started talking all the words came like a race.

It seems the elf had fallen from the sleigh that Santa rides
Perhaps some extra hoof grease that the reindeer used to glide.
The elf had slipped upon sled’s floor and could not grasp the rail
And somersaulting through the air, toward the ground did sail.

It landed rather softly on a snow-capped mound of dirt
And being rather tiny, it was hardly even hurt.
But now a crowd had gathered, wondering what, when, why and who
And that’s when I came on the scene, though I knew not what to do.

And after all the group had heard the small elf’s tale related
Nervous smiles and feeling curiosity not sated.
So that’s about the time I heard some say, “We need a plan!”
The elf performed a cartwheel to the roof of nearby van.

Quite suddenly a blur of red amidst a cloud of snow
And Santa’s sleigh and reindeer hovered over those below.
As every eye turned quickly to the visage up above
A feeling of a joyous hope, a calming sense of love.

With one quick leap the elf was back atop of Santa’s sleigh
The reindeer off like lightning bolts, the cry “Up, Up, Away!”
And thinking now about that elf, though it was very small,
Reminds me of how Christmas love should spread to one and all.

By James Geehring