Dell's Christmas Project
by Gary Swancey
It was the time of cold and season white,
a captivating view of glistening highlight.
This beautiful scenery of true delight,
glowed and sparkled by a dawning light.
Dell, the chick-a-dee, was on her patio,
viewing her fifth season of wintry snow.
Snow and ice crowned the forest landscape,
and animal tracks formed a defined shape.
Dell was excited, it was her best holiday.
For Christmas was just a few days away.
This is the day she truly loved most,
stretching her wings by the patio post.
In the valley, people lit the big Christmas tree,
and their homes were such a wonder to see.
Trimmed with pine cones, holly and lights.
Dell loves the beauty of Christmas nights.
People were laughing and singing, you know,
hanging the berries, lights and mistletoe.
The aroma of pies and cakes filled the air.
Folks on their knees giving thanks in prayer.
Dell wanted to decorate their house and tree,
with all the trimmings, for Santa to see.
Her mind was filled with happiness and cheer,
thinking of friends that might help her this year.
Ted, a young buck, who did love to play,
let Dell ride on his horns and talk all day.
They wouldn't stray very far from the tree,
usually King Rick is who they'd go see.
Rick, a kindly old gnome, good as gold,
who guarded the forest, being brave and bold.
Rick hated both hunters and trappers alike,
tripping their animal traps with a lightning strike.
He would yell to his friends of a hunter's aim,
saving the life of what they call, fair game.
He was always happy and in good cheer,
with magical powers, Dell loved him dear.
This year she wanted to decorate her home.
Maybe get a little help from a deer and gnome.
Dell yelled, "Ted, would you like to help me?
It's Christmas and I want to decorate my tree."
Ted yelled up, "Is it that time of year?
Sure, I'll help with your Christmas cheer?"
In a soft, sweet voice, Dell then replied,
"I will ask my Dad if I can go for a ride."
Dell found Dad in his favorite spot.
Relaxing in his chair, cozy and hot.
Dell asked "Dad, can I go ride on Ted?"
He took a moment on the words she said.
"Dad . . . ", Dell said in her softest tone,
"We want to find Christmas trim on our own,
to decorate the porch, house, and tree.
If you want, I will ask Rick to go with me."
Dad said, "Okay, only if Rick does not mind."
So, Dell flew out the door for Rick to find.
Rick only lived a couple of trees down,
his front door was the entrance to Gnome Town.
From high above she flew without a sound,
till she saw his tree with a door in the ground.
With a turn of her wing down she dove
to a front door mat that the gnomes wove.
Landing on the mat, she tapped on the door,
just as Ted walked up, Rick let out a roar.
In a real loud voice Rick asked, "Who is it?"
Dell answered, "It's Dell, I came to visit."
Hearing her familiar voice, Rick replied,
"Hi, Dell, who is that by your side?"
"It's Ted, you know, our friend the deer,"
Dell quickly said so he would not fear.
Stepping from the door was a tiny old man,
wearing a Santa's hat from Afghanistan.
His tiny face wrinkled and his hair snow white,
with a long beard to keep him warm at night.
He looked like a tiny Santa Claus toy,
the gnome king, whom Dell did enjoy.
Rick was taller than Dell, who was small,
yet compared with Ted, neither were tall.
"Well, dear friends! What can I do for you?"
He asked as he knelt to buckle his shoe.
Dell answered, "I was wondering if you'd like to
possibly help me with a thing or two?
My Dad said asking you to go was okay,
if you don't want to go we'll be on our way."
Rick then questioned, "What's a thing or two?
Is someone sick? Do they have the flu?"
"No sir, it's not like that at all."
Dell responded, and then seem to stall.
Resuming Dell said, "I want to trim my home.
No one knows the forest better than a gnome."
Rick said, "No! Please, I would love to go.
I know a place where Christmas ferns grow.
Still, hold on a minute and let me think."
When he had his plan, he gave Dell a wink.
"Dell, go home and wait for me there,
I do not want your Dad to worry a hair.
Ted, wait right here and give me a lift.
I am old and slow. You are young and swift."
Rick spoke as he went back into the tree.
Dell then flew home as quick as could be.
Rick returned with his crown and sword,
truly, he was the gnomes king and lord.
Rick locked the door to secure his shack,
then skipped and jumped onto Ted's back.
Rick said, "Let's go o' mightiest steed."
Ted then quickly jumped into speed.
Dell was waiting on the porch of her tree,
as Ted ran up, he appeared small and wee.
Rick leaped from Ted's back to a nearby limb,
then jumped all the way to the front porch rim.
"Well, here I am, just like I said.
Where is your Dad?" he asked as she led.
Dell said, "Dad is right over there,
in the living room in his favorite chair."
Dad said, "Hello Rick, how are you today?"
Rick responded, "Great! What else can I say?
Dell has asked me to go along with them,
to help her to find some Christmas trim.
So here I am, what would you like me to do?"
Dad answered, "Just try to keep her in view."
Rick turned asking, "What's first by golly?"
In happy voice, Dell said, "Ferns and holly,
To trim the roof, the house, and rails,
then we'll need wire, ribbons and nails."
"Whoa! Little lady," Rick said with a giggle.
"One thing at a time, that's too much to jiggle.
Let's start by getting the ferns and holly,
to trim what you want and make it jolly."
Rick went out the door and over the rail.
Dell jumped into the air to watch him sail.
Together they sailed down onto Ted's back.
Each landed on a horn, right on track.
"Okay Rick, which way do we go?" asked Ted.
Rick replied, "Go right and then straight ahead."
Ted then turned and started down the trail.
They all waved to Mr. Mouse, Ted with his tail.
Soon they came to the place of holly and ferns,
Dell saw the size and voiced her concerns.
"These are too fat, too heavy, too big,
we can cover the house with just one twig!"
Rick laughing said, "Calm down, sweetheart.
Would over there be a good place to start?"
For just to the right was a really small one.
Ted just laughed, "Well, son of a gun."
Rick jumped down taking an ax from his waist.
"I'll cut while Dell loads," he said without haste.
Ted then asked, "Well, what about me?"
Rick responded, "You will haul to Dell's tree."
Rick started cutting with all his might,
while Ted walked over just to his right.
Dell began loading the branches of holly,
as she hummed "T'is the Season to be Jolly."
Soon Ted had a load which was plenty,
but it was only about fifteen or twenty.
They were ready to go to Dell's tree.
Dell felt excited and filled with glee.
"I appreciate your help, Ted and Rick,"
Dell said as she loaded the last holly stick.
Dell tied the holly with a piece of vine,
then into the air to look at her design.
"Okay let's go," Rick yelled out to Ted,
as Rick jumped to a horn on Ted's head.
"Dell, we're ready to go," yelled Rick.
Dell just said, "I'll fly and be quick."
Ted then said, "Rick hang on, here I go.
I don't want you upside down in the snow."
With that Ted turned to start on his way,
as Dell yelled down, "We've not got all day."
Rick looked up at Dell and shook his head,
then saying, "Okay, let hurry a bit Ted.
But not too fast or we'll lose the load,
no short cuts though, just stay on the road."
Ted went from a walk into a small trot,
hoping Dell tied the vine with a knot.
Soon they were back at Dell's tree house.
"What are you kids doing?" asked Mr. Mouse.
Dell replied, "It's my Christmas festivity,
just holiday trimmings for my tree."
Mr. Mouse replied, "You've got a lot to do,
for a gnome, a buck, and little old you.
If you should need my help do not hesitate,
all the time I have I will happily donate."
"Thank you, sir, but I think we'll be fine."
Dell just said as she picked at the vine.
Rick jumped up and cut the vine with his ax.
Ted shook and the holly fell in his tracks.
Dell quickly grasped a branch in her beak,
before Rick even had a chance to speak.
Rick said, "Dell, if you wait a minute or so,
I have a plan you might like to know.
If you'll take me up all the holly I'll tie
as you bring it up to me in the sky."
"Okay," Dell said, "That will be just great."
Ted then said, "Do I stand here and wait?"
"No," replied Rick, "We need strings of vine,
mistletoe and cones from around that pine."
Ted answered, "How can I get to the mistletoe?"
Rick replied, "Don't worry, I'll let you know."
So off Ted went, as Rick got on Dell.
Up she flew saying, "This is just swell."
Landing Rick jumped onto the patio,
an avalanche covered Rick with snow.
Dell laughed as she flew for more holly trim.
Jumping too hard is why snow fell on him.
Ted came back with a few pine cones and vine,
as Dell loaded herself up without a whine.
Flapping her wings as hard as she could.
Up she went, but not like she should.
Rick yelled down, "Is this a race?
Slow down Dell, set a good pace.
This won't take long if you do it right.
Hurrying, the trim will be a terrible sight.
So let's enjoy this and take our time,
and do it with a little rhythm and rhyme."
Landing Dell puffed, "Okay Rick, I will,
but, I love this and it's such a thrill."
And that is how the rest of the day was spent,
for this working team, on this Christmas event.
Tired and exhausted they were finally through.
Stepping back, they all took in the view.
Oh! This was something, it was magnificent,
for just three it was quite an accomplishment.
Holly laced the roof, windows and floor,
and a pine cone wreath centers the door.
Dell said, "But something's missing I think."
"I know," Rick said, "Lights that will blink."
"You are right," Ted said, "What will we do?"
They had no electricity, this they all knew.
Dell hung her little head and flew to her room.
Her visions of Christmas were ones of gloom.
Ted looked at Rick and then said, "You know!
I would really enjoy lighting up the snow."
Rick thought for a minute and then he said,
"I know what to do to stop this dread.
Ted it's a secret, a secret you must keep.
We can surprise her before she goes to sleep.
I've a special formula of magic gnome dust,
but you cannot tell anyone, this is a must.
It will take some work and I'll need your help.
I need a Christmas fern to mix with kelp."
Interrupting, Ted said, "Kelp! What is that?"
"It's merely seaweed from the sea of Trollat."
Rick answered, then continued with his plan.
"You'll have to go quickly as fast as you can.
It's Christmas Eve, we've not a moment to lose,
bring the fern to my house so I can mix the ooze."
Ted turned with a mighty jump and raced out of sight.
Running he wondered how ooze could make light.
"Oh well!" he thought, Rick must know what to do.
Running as fast as he could, his urgency grew.
The wind of his stride laid back his fur,
and snow in his eyes caused his sight to blur.
Snow flew behind him as he laid down his track,
dodging the branches bare from winter's attack.
Just ahead was the only known Christmas fern.
Stopping to bite a branch was his only concern.
Then back he headed with the very same pep.
As fast as he could, he retraced his hoof step.
Ted wondered if he had enough for Rick's deed?
He was not told the amounts of fern to seaweed.
Soon he arrived back to the door of Rick's tree,
and inside was a beautiful Christmas fairy.
"What are you staring at?" Rick said with a gruff.
"Oh nothing!" Ted said, "Did I get you enough?"
The beautiful fairy just nodded her head,
as Rick put the fern in the ooze, he said,
"You have done very well. I'm proud of you.
Now I have one more thing I want you to do.
Go over to Dell's, but walk don't run,
tell her to come outside and watch the fun.
We'll be through in just a minute or two.
I want to surprise both Dell and you."
Ted thought as he began walking to see Dell,
what was the secret, he could not tell.
Reaching Dell's tree Ted gave out a shout.
"Dell, to see all the fun you must to come out."
Dell came out and said, "What do you mean?
Is there something happening I've never seen?"
Just as Ted started to reply, Rick yelled, "Yes!
Until you come down you'll just have to guess."
Dell leaped from the porch and soared to the ground,
then Rick said, "Shhh! Do not make a sound.
Listen really close to see if you can hear,
a beautiful melody of Christmas cheer."
The music was like small waves of the seas,
then a twinkling glow lit up the trees.
A swarm of lightning bugs then flew all around.
Their fluttering wings caused a musical sound.
Dell and Ted loved Rick's Christmas cheer,
as Rick watched the Christmas dread disappear.
Not a word was spoken as the fireflies landed,
scattering about just like Rick commanded.
Dell then said, "Oh! It is so beautiful, Rick.
How did you keep the flies from being sick?
For I know this cold will harm them a lot."
Rick said, "We made a mist to keep them hot.
"We? Who is we?" Dell then turned to ask.
Rick then said, "Well, the fern was Ted's task.
The kelp, however, I had to go get,
and a Christmas fairy that I met,
had the pollen of a Christmas rose,
which made up the ooze we did compose.
It keeps the glow of our friends very bright,
to give you a sparkling Christmas night."
Dell became aware of what Christmas is.
It's the touch of a gift from a heart like his.
Copyright 1995 by Gary Swancey
From 'The Joyful Years' & 'Reflections on a Swan Sea' due in March '98
Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year.
Ga Bard |
