A year ago I received this sweet poem in a Christmas card but am having trouble finding the poet. The closest I can come is a similar poem by Helen Steiner Rice. Both poems are lovely but if anyone knows who wrote the one below, please let me know. Thanks and have a wonderful holiday!
My Christmas Card List
*There is a list of folks I know
All written in a book,
And every year at Christmas time
I go and take a look.
And this is when I realizedf
Those names are all a part,
Not of the book they’re written in
But deep inside my heart
*For each name stands for someone
Who has touched my life sometime,
And in that meeting they’ve become
A special friend of mine.
I really feel that we’re composed
Of each remembered name,
And my life is so much better
Than it was before they came.
*Once you’ve known that “someone”
All the years cannot erase,
The memory of a pleasant word
Or of a friendly face.
So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine,
Of names upon a list that are
Forgotten in between.
*For when I send a Christmas card
That is addressed to you,
It is because you’re on the list
Of folks I’m indebted to.
And whether I have known you
For many years or few,
The greatest gift that life can give
Is having friends like you.
This is a lovely poem. It sounds as though it had been written many years ago … not old world but perhaps the 1950s.
Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful Christmas.
Thanks, Kathleen. Happy holidays to you!
If you’re still wondering, I recently found this post:
My Christmas Card List
By George A. Gladden, Sr. (1935-2005)
Lynn,
Thanks for this. The poems are almost exactly alike. George’s is a bit longer and I shall keep his to use again. I love it. Cheers and stay safe!
Lynne
This poem is definitely by Helen Steiner Rice
Sorry. I was incorrect. The Helen Steiner Rice poem is longer and written a bit differently. Worth comparing. I think you’ll like the Rice poem even better.
Hi Cindy,
I wasn’t able to find the longer poem. Can you send to me at lynne@lynnekennedymysteries.com Thanks and have a Merry!