Here is a sample from this year:
Aidan, this gift for you
Caused me some to-do
What to get for the man
Who buys some land
And then builds a house
In the country
Now he belongs to the landed gentry.
And a gift must be another entry
For the self-confident man
Who makes what he can.
That's it, I'll join him,
In making something
That is useful way out there.
But what? I just stare.
Across the street for inspiration.
I made it and he can use it,
To welcome his friends,
Or rearrange it to hide from others
He doesn't want in his borders.
It sounds confusing, I know
So I'd better go
And let the Saint make delivery.
Caused me some to-do
What to get for the man
Who buys some land
And then builds a house
In the country
Now he belongs to the landed gentry.
And a gift must be another entry
For the self-confident man
Who makes what he can.
That's it, I'll join him,
In making something
That is useful way out there.
But what? I just stare.
Across the street for inspiration.
I made it and he can use it,
To welcome his friends,
Or rearrange it to hide from others
He doesn't want in his borders.
It sounds confusing, I know
So I'd better go
And let the Saint make delivery.
And someone made him two sets of address numbers out of wood! I love this yearly tradition.
John was the kind soul who donned the costume this year. But he refused to wear the beard. Each man does St. Nick a little differently.
And then we spent Sunday at Mom and Dad Van Dyk's celebrating a family St. Nicks. More poems and precious gifts without the mystery. Grandma had sent along a box full of knitted things. The kids love them.