A FALLEN CHRISTMAS

It melted like the snow,
On that Christmas day,
The pleasure of a child,
From where the presents lay.

For on that very spot, where
The tree did used to be,
Lay nothing but a hat,
And a child's thwarted plea.

"But where are all the presents Mommy?
Where have they all gone now?
They were under the tree Mommy,
By the lowest bough."

Her mother shook her head,
And took her by the hand,
"The tree was never there dear,
Nor the presents grand."

Every little scrap of paper
Every shiny bow,
Had never even been there,
But from her mind did grow.

Every year, of that child's life,
Santa never came,
He never brought the presents grand
But left her there in shame.