Who found you in the green forest
And were you very sorry to come away?
See I will comfort you.
Because you smell so sweetly

I will kiss your cool bark
And hug you safe and tight
Just as your mother would
Only don’t be afraid.

Look the spangles
That sleep all year in the dark box
Dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine
The balls the red and gold the fluffy threads

Put up your little arms
And I will give them all to you to hold
Every finger shall have its ring
And there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

When you are quite dressed
You’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
And how they’ll stare
Oh but you will be very proud

And my little sister and I will take hands
And looking at our beautiful tree
We’ll dance and sing.
E.E. Cummings

Somehow not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to make you glad.
John Greenleaf Whittier