A DYING TOWN
It used to be very prosperous that small place,
Lots of work in the mines, smiles on every face,
Christmas was always bountiful and lots of fun,
Until the gold seams were dried up and gone.
The gold mine is closed, homes empty and bare,
Just a few old-timers found about here and there,
And some families with nowhere else to go
Changed the scene in the cold Christmas snow.
No street light from the town, just the old tree
That stands ever tall, not decorated you see,
The corner store struggled to try and survive
The town was trying hard to just keep alive.
A visitor who had lived there many years ago
Came one Christmas to old friends to say hello,
The only person in the hotel, and no lights seen,
He knew other Christmases how bright they had been.
He called on old friends left there asked them to take
A few decorations to the tree and there try and make
A spark of Christmas to help cheer those left around
And many willing ornaments were readily found.
A word to the town council that a few hours a night
Would not cost too much, they agreed without a fight.
The tree could be supplied with power just to let glow
A few strings of outdoor lights Christmas spirit to show.
The difference to the people when the tree shone bright,
Seemed to inspire them and bring hope more bright
To saddened hearts, the spirit of Christmas came through
To a once dying town, but now sweet hope comes anew.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 9 November 2004