The Baby Doll Christmas

As a very small girl I was wandering the yard,

And in a world of my own without any regard

To “Big Rinty” German Shepherd dog.

So while RintyDog hunted and foraged for scraps, 

I traversed and daydreamed that I soon would unwrap

A gift doll I had seen in a catalog.

And although it was winter and magical holiday time,

I remember the weather was unseasonably prime,

With warm days--And it just before Christmas.

Mama watched from the kitchen with supper on the stove

As a star struck little girl would daydream and rove

Between doll-dreamworld and supper she fixed us.

Dad had built our house and was a Baptist preacher;

His sport--fox hunter; his talent--“Sol-Fa” music teacher;

His full-time work--making boots at a factory.

Enduringly sweet spirited, he and Mom saw time-hardens
As adding toil to labor they raised children and gardens
         As Mom also worked fulltime at the Boot Factory.

So with the times generally being so tight

A small child knew no expectations to invite

Other than "Slim Hopes" for Christmas Tree morning;

Still doll-thoughts persistently in my fancy debuted

As if dreams really could come true

And soared anticipational joy without warning.

Dreams of clothing Betsy-Wetsy so she looked so dressy;

Dreams of changing dirty diapers, no matter how messy;

      Dreams of bottle feeding a baby--forever mine to keep.
Dreams of splashing and bathing her in the small dishpan;

Dreams of swaddling in a blanket and clasping a tiny hand;

      Dreams of rocking her close and lullabying her to sleep.

I had never longed for anything so much

As I longed just to hold and longed just to touch

That Betsy-Wetsy doll I had seen in the catalog.

Just to cradle her face and gaze in her eyes

Just to comfort her sadnessess and sooth her cries

--That motherly longing so strongly and eagerly agog.

I envisioned intensely about that little baby doll

Wishing fervently for the sweet face that I saw

But down deep knowing she would never be mine.

But AT LAST Christmas morning finally came round

And we children ran to the tree to see what would be found

            And Wonder of Wonders there was 
            Doll-Of-My-Heart, BETSY WETSY DEVINE.

As a very small girl I was wandering the yard

And in a world of my own without any regard

To “Big Rinty” German Shepherd dog.

So while RintyDog hunted and foraged for scraps, 

I fed and diapered and held close in my lap

A gift doll I had seen in a catalog.

 

The next time I remember such motherly anticipation

Was when with my own children in pregnant expectation

             I awaited eagerly to see their sweet face be born

I would sketch out plans and dreams so lovingly

Of all I prayed and wished each child would be

            As I with Universal Woman and Motherhood enjoin.

While Moms pass through the timelines of bottle and diaper
Celebrating wonderful personalities, easy-going or hyper,

         With Rinty's, Winston's and Rusty Dogs in their lives;

Moms get to participate and help mold each child's life story--

Moms get to count their children as their song and their glory--

         And the children get to crown their Mothers' lives and 
         become life's binding ties.