A Christmas Alphabet
by Marion Conger


A is for Angels,

Appearing on high,
proclaiming glad news
from a clear midnight sky.


B is Balthazar,

Black King from afar,
who journeyed to Bethlehem
led by a star,
Bearing gifts to the child.


C is for the Child

born that first Christmas day
and laid in a Cradle
on Cushions of hay.


D is for the Dolls

of which little girls Dream.


E for an Eggnog

with nutmeg and cream.


F is a Fir tree
made Festive and bright
by candles a Family has gathered to light,
by silvery....

Garlands and Gewgaws of Gold,
and all that its fragrant Green branches
can hold of Gingerbread babies
and cranberry strings and other most
Gorgeously Glittering things.


H is for Holly wreathes decking the Halls,
and Hemlock boughs Hung on the living-room walls.


I is for Ice skaters racing together,
on Indigo ponds in Icicle weather.


J is the Jewel-colored Jellies and Jams
served with turkeys and geese
and with clove-studded hams.


K is Kris Kringle,
whose cheeks are like cherries,
and the magical Knapsack of Khaki he carries,full of...

Kites and Kaleidoscopes, Kerchiefs and Kittens,
and stuffed Kangaroos and gay Knitted mittens.


L is for Logs that are Laid on the hearth
to burn when the winter sweeps out of the north.


M is for Misty-eyed Maidens and Misses
who stand 'neath the Mistletoe waiting for kisses.


N is for Nuts with a Nutcracker handy.


O is for Oranges and Oodles of candy.


Pis Plum Puddings with hard sauce on top, and Pies made of Pumpkin, and Popcorn to Pop.


Q is a warm patchwork Quilt on a bed.


R is for Ribbons of Raspberry Red.


S is for Sleighs and for Sleds and for Skis,
Skimming over the Snow with the greatest of ease.
(And, S is for Santa Claus; a fictitious mirth
to teach children the goodness of giving
and the joy of Christ's birth.)


T is for Tops, and for all of the Toys,
like Trumpets and Tom-toms, that make a fine noise.


U is a Useful,
Uninteresting box
of Umbrellas and Underwear,
mufflers and socks.


V is a Vigorous reindeer name Vixen
who, with Dancer and Prancer and Donder and Blitzen,
flies around the

World like the down of a thistle
When Saint Nick cracks his Whip and gives them a Whistle.


X is for Xmas cards come by the dozens
from aunts and from uncles,
from friends and from cousins.


Y is Yule candle lighted each Year,
and the Yawning of Youngsters as bedtime draws near.


Z is a Zebra with shoe-button eyes,
peeking out of a stocking in happy surprise,
and looking as if (if he could) he would say,

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day!"