Mistletoe Joe - The JourneyMan's Journal

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He’s a lover of women 
A brother to men 
But to boys and girls 
He’s their very best friend  
He’s the best product  
Of a Christmas party  
From long, long ago 
And his Momma calls him 
Mistletoe Joe  

Born nine months past Christmas  
1961 
He wears Cowboy boots and a black Stetson hat 
Plus a holstered gun 
And carries a Santa bag for fun 
Filled with joy 
And Christmas toys 
Any little girl or boy 
Who recites a poem they’ve learned 
And know  
Gets a Christmas gift
From Mistletoe Joe  

He has nary a brother 
Nor a sister 
‘Cause his blessed mother
Never knew another Mister 
Like the one she fell for 
Like Christmas snow  
On Christmas Eve so long ago 
She crawled into his arms 
And into bed 
Wrapped in his charms 
Visions of love  
And joy to come 
Prancing like reindeer 
Inside her head 
She was oh so happy through and through  
But her poor, sweet lover  
Woke up dead 
Like mortal men sometimes do  

So she bore his memory 
And his son 
Born nine months past Christmas  
1961 
With his father’s marbled eyes 
And button nose 
And cheeks like fire
That glow and glow 
And hair as white As the Christmas snow 
That fell that night 
So long ago 
And she read poetry to her growing son 
Like his father had done 
To his Momma on that Christmas Eve  
And she taught her little boy 
That the only real hope 
And the greatest joy 
Comes to those who dare believe  
In Jesus and love and reckless giving  
Which, of course, Is a life worth living  

Now, in that little Christmas town 
When the sun is finally going down  
The night before the Savior’s birth 
Brings good tidings of great joy 
To every blessed girl and boy 
And peace to a restless earth 
The children gather ‘round the Christmas tree 
Or climb up on their father’s knee  
To read or write  
A poem, you know 
One to recite 
To Mistletoe Joe  

When the sun comes up 
On Christmas morn 
When Joe was conceived  
When Jesus was born 
The children rise 
Wipe the sleep from their eyes 
Put on their coats  
And off they go 
Leaving happy footprints in the snow 
Down to the corner of Main and Third 
Where the happiest voices you ever heard  
Share the poems they learned and know  
To claim their prize 
From the smiling man 
With snow-white hair and marbled eyes 
The one they love  
The one they know 
Was sent from above 
Like Christmas snow  
To teach them Love of poetry
Which they take wherever they go
Thanks to one Momma's
Greatest Love
And sweetest memory
And Mistletoe Joe

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