Every year, I write a poem for Christmas, and include it in my Christmas cards to friends and family. For the days leading up to Christmas, I’m publishing all of my Christmas poems here, as a kind of Advent calendar.

Today’s poem was written in 2011.

I stayed awake one Christmas night
To see if it would snow
The moon shone ghostly on the trees
As frosty hilltops glowed

I stayed awake one Christmas night
To look for Santa’s sleigh
A jingle broke the silent clouds
And swiftly dashed away

I stayed awake one Christmas night
To watch for midnight guests
An owl aloft beyond the trees
Curved slowly to the west

I stayed awake one Christmas night
To glimpse the brightest star
The village slept in heav’nly peace
Lit deeply from afar