A Christmas Lesson From A Misfit Toy

I, alas, am a misfit toy,
Cast to the workshop floor.
Not for me, a girl or boy,
My quality’s too poor.

No elf would claim he made me,
There’s too much shame in that.
Rudolph even MAIMED me . . .
He ate my little hat.

I’m uglier than sin itself:
I’m limp and much too tall.
If they find me, they’ll hide me on the top shelf.
I’m an ugly, ugly doll.

A dust bunny is my only friend.
Real ones are hard to find . . . .
What’s this? A hand? Is this the end?!
Not what I had in mind!

I’m being smuggled in a vest.
What’s happening to me?
Is the gesture just a jest?
. . . . . I’m underneath a tree.

Night rolls by like a molasses train.
Christmas Eve slips by without cares.
I try to hide but all in vain
As footsteps come down the stairs.

It’s a little elf-girl of six years old,
But crippled like seventy-two.
Her misshapen features are frighteningly bold
But her smile, at least, is true.

With disbelief, she says, “A toy!”
She holds me tight with glee.
“Oh, Papa,” she cries with unbridled joy,
“God made him just like me.”

And now it has occurred to me:
I’m really not that bad.
Inside you find the real beauty.
Now, really, aren’t you glad?

So, forget the tree, forget the lights.
For Santa don’t you shout.
This love, this joy, this silent night
Is what Christmas is all about.

wow. It was really cute and sweet as well as extremely touching. Congradulations, I think this one really diserves to win. And I'm biased towards Atomik_sprout! But I love the way this one flows, the wording and everything. I tihnk this is my favorite work by you thus far. :)

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Originally Posted by bratling

wow. It was really cute and sweet as well as extremely touching. Congradulations, I think this one really diserves to win. And I'm biased towards Atomik_sprout! But I love the way this one flows, the wording and everything. I tihnk this is my favorite work by you thus far. :)

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Thank you! I wrote it for my younger students (ages five to seven). I feel it sends an important message, especially at this commercial time of the year . . . but, yeah, thanks!

You had me at the Misfit toy in the title.

Beautifully written. I laughed at the "ate my little hat" part. I loved it! Every single word!

However, darn you for making me tear up. ("God made him just like me.”)

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Originally Posted by divine_punishment

Thank you! I wrote it for my younger students (ages five to seven). I feel it sends an important message, especially at this commercial time of the year . . . but, yeah, thanks!

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I agree entierly. It's a great message any time of year. But for so many people they feel left out and unloved and unaccepted during this time of year. IT's a really hard time ingeneral for a lot of people. What a touching message to give out. :)

Are there any ways I can improve this poem? I don't know if it went as far as I could have taken it . . .

I don't honestly see a way to improve this. I think it was so fantastically written and the message was so touching, especially at this time of year. It flowed right and rhymed where it should.

YAY!!!!!!!!!! IM SO HAPPY YOU WON!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! but that is a very good poem i like it