An Old Man’s Christmas Eve
written by: LaVern Spencer McCarthy
He lives alone inside a rusted shack
with nothing but a puppy for a friend.
But on this Christmas Eve the ghosts are back,
his family on whom his dreams depend.
Noel, with merriment like none before,
brings joy to him. As precious moments wane,
he does not seem to mind the north wind’s roar
or how death watches through the window pane.
Tonight is made for laughter, not for tears.
As everyone draws near, the past, defied
by loving memories of treasured years,
displayed upon a table, side-by-side,
the portraits will not let his sorrow stay,
but warm him with the smiles of yesterday.
LaVern Spencer McCarthy, a Texas native, has published eight books of poetry and four books of short stories plus three journals. Her poems have been published in Visions International, Poetry Society of Texas Book of The Year, Open Skies Quarterly, National Federation of State Poetry Society's Encore, Austin Poetry Society's Austin's Best Poets, A Texas Garden of Verses as well as numerous state anthologies and newspaper columns. Her poem, October’s Agenda, was nominated for the Pushcart Award in 2023. She has won over five-hundred state awards and forty-one national awards.
Latest posts by LaVern Spencer McCarthy (see all)
- An Old Man’s Christmas Eve - December 18, 2025
- Whispers of Death - November 23, 2023
