Thank you for printing my poem “Mothers Tears” in your May addition 2013. This poem (Christmas at St. James) tells the true story of her final playing at our small country church on Christmas Eve.

Our original church had burned down 100 years before. Coal oil lamps are used on Christmas Eve making the church extremely dim. My mother, because of her advanced age, could no longer see the notes. She practiced at home so she could play at church. That year my mother got her days mixed up & Christmas Eve arrived before she had finished her practice. Lunar eclipse occurred just prior to Christmas Eve that year. Just prior to the service her hearing aid broke making her completely deaf & unable to hear the notes. Our very old minister shortly after had his leg removed (diabetes).

Some kid had played with the organ & pushed many buttons & stops. Nothing was coming out of it. When my mother began to play she was completely unaware there was no music. Her grandson who knew nothing about the organ began to pull & push buttons at random.

This Christmas service would have never happened.

Christmas at St. James

The grinch had smiled and danced around
When he burnt the first church down
In apple orchard again it stood
The little church near wild wood

The grinch hates Christmas and has a plan
To rob the advent time from man
I’ll steal the service, carols too
I’m sure there’s nothing they can do

The little church's parson it seems could hardly stand
The organist; the oldest in the land
The grinch had danced and laughed with glee
Oh! How easy this will be

Pardon me a moment, I must set the scene
And now must take you, where the ginch has been
The organist his target, she so barely sees
With arthritic fingers and her ancient knees

He sneaks into her bedroom, and enters in her dreams
The days are mixed, and nothing is as it seems
The music notes, are far too small
The carol tunes, she must recall

Lunar eclipse, the time is right
Into the church, in darkest night
Pull the switches, knobs, and blocks
I’ll make sure the organ stops

Father Bill had loved to run
But now he knew, his knee was done
The grinch had grinned and waved his hand
Tonight! Tonight! He will not stand

The preacher and the organist too
Of course we know old eyes won’t do
The grinch he laughed with pure delight
He’d keep the sermon and carols from sight

There youth departed, long past their prime
He’d rob their vision and make them blind
And now at last the time is near
His final trick, the organist can’t hear
The night was clear not hardly cold
The flock collected in the fold
The church adorned with Christmas cheer
The lamps are lit, the hour is near

The grinch has found, so he can see
Out altar window, an old pine tree
It's Christmas Eve throughout the land
Behold! Come see your maker's hand

Father Bill attempts to rise
Once again - he really tries
Like the phoenix of days of yore
God's senior servant takes the floor

The advent candles, oh! How they glow
The vicar's words, oh! How they flow
Rejoice, rejoice, our saviour's born
God sent salvation on that morn

Now the carol time is near
The organist, we know, can’t hear
Granddaughter points upon the page
And gently prod, God's senior sage

With granddaughter's cue, she rose from the pew
She knew just what to do
She played the carol, she loved so dear
How could she know? She could not hear

Grandson leapt upon the floor
He yanked and pulled to tweak
Surely someone guided him
And notes began to speak

Sore and old and tired knees
Her crooked fingers on the keys
In phantom guise her spirit flies
This cannot be - the grinch now cries

The words are hid from preacher's sight
It does not matter on this night
The parson smiled, I’m sure he knew
There’s nothing that the grinch could do

And so at last it came to pass
The songs and words were told
Upon the joyous Christmas morn
Our saviour Christ was born

The grinch his eyes were glazed with awe
His mouth hung open wide
How can I win?
Their saviour's by their side

The parson strides across the floor
His hands upheld so high
With silent night - the final chord
Go in peace - to love - and serve the Lord
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