THE STORYTELLER:

‘Twas
way and away
way far away in a land
never touched
by time

There
once lived a king
just a legend some say
with a story for your
heart and
mine

Come
gather ‘round, children
the tree is near’ trimmed
the rooftops
are covered
with snow

snuggle
up by the fire
I’ll tell you the tale
of a Christmas Eve
long, long ago

‘Twas deep
in the mountains
deep in the past and
deep in the depths of despair
there once lived a King whose
heart had grown cold
with a sorrow
too dreadful
to bear

Now
it never
had been this way
in the past and indeed
just one Christmas before
his joy was the pride of
the whole countryside
His good heart could
not have loved
more

The
object
of all his
affections, you see
were his son, and his daughter,
and they were happy
as ever a family
could be and
grew happier
day by
day

Summers
would pass like
sands through the glass
slipping slowly from morning
to night and the forests
would sing and the
mountains would ring
with the rich, royal,
kingly delight

Then
summer
would change
as the leaves would arrange
to wear colors of bright red and gold
and never a kingdom could match
the content of that
merriest kingdom
of olde

As
autumn
would draw
to its krinkly close
the white winter skies would appear
and the hearts of the children
grew happier still for
they knew now
that Christmas
was near

Oh,
Christmas
was special
the children all knew
the most special season of all
there were cookies to make
and cakes to be baked
and presents
both great
and small

Their
gladness
would grow
to a feverish pitch
as the grand
celebrations
drew near

And
everyone
knew as the
good King did
too

‘Twas the most
precious time
of the
year

But
out of
the shadows
one dark, cloudless night
on the lone
longest night
of the year

With
the children asleep
in the low winter’s light
that first night of winter
a wind chilled the night
and a wintertime beast
did appear

in rode
The Black Knight
Of Fear

Forever
The Black Knight
has wandered the land
seeking out whom to destroy
he hated the heart of the
Good Christmas King
he hated the
young girl
and boy

Lost in his madness
he drew up his plan
to come in the night
to their beds
And from their glad hearts
he’d steal their
young joy and replace it
with cold Fear
instead

Now
Fear is an evil
that knows no good thing
like darkness, it comes in the night
and hides where confusion
and hopelessness reign
then lingers long into
the light

With
sun settled back
behind curtains of black
with the dark winter’s moon in its place
as the children lay sleeping
he came in the dark
He came without
showing his
face

Like
a thief
he came crawling
while snarling he crept
“I’ll end all their young
Christmas joy!”

And
he reached
out one claw as
the young children slept
and Fear gripped
the young
girl and
boy

There
in the blackness
the dark deed was done
each child lay frozen like ice
The Black Knight of Fear
stole away in the dark
and the King paid
a terrible
price

He
found them
next morning
so quiet so still
not laughing nor
breathing
a word

The Good King
cried out in
the gray
morning
chill

But
no one
could help
him who
heard

All
through
the day and
all through the night
The Good King
stood close
by their
side

But nothing could melt
their dark icy stares
or the Fear that
kept growing
inside

Night
after night
day after day
The King felt
more lost and alone
and his own Fear now grew
for the children he loved
more than anyone
else he had
known

When
on the 4th night
came his servants to say
“Tomorrow ‘tis Christmas,
Good King”

But
with white
wintry eyes
The King loudly proclaimed,
“Nay, nevermore
say such a thing!

“Throughout
all my kingdom
my word shall go forth
to everyone, every December!
“And Christmas shall nevermore
here in this land be a day
we shall ever
remember!”

At that
very moment
each servant turned cold
stone cold at his angry
command

His words fell like ice
over each hopeful heart
and darkness swept
all through the
land

The King
watched in horror
his Kingdom was lost!
He buried
his face in his hands
and sadly
and painfully
finally he
saw

At last he
could now understand

There
at their bedside
he dropped to his
knees
and
lifted
his eyes
to the sky

He opened
his arms and he
opened his
heart

As a tear gently ran
from his
eye

My
dear Lord
in Heaven…”
He whispered so soft
“Your low
lowly servant
forgive

For I
hold no power
or strength of my own
My kingdom is
yours while
I live

Forgive, please
my anger
my fear
my lost hope
For now, Lord,
I finally see

‘Tis only
Your Love
which brings
Power and
Peace

Return
now your
Peace
upon
me

please, Lord...”

Then
the skies
opened up and
the darkness gave way
to a glimmering, shimmering light!
And they say to this day that
the sun’s brightest ray
never shone as the
heavens that
night

For
there
midst the brilliance
a Child appeared as The Babe
in the manger of olde and
a Voice could be heard
which spoke loud
a word

And
The Word
which it spoke was
“Behold!”

“Here
is my Son
who well pleases my heart
and who all His life I have loved
I, too, am a father
who once lost my child
and I feel your pain
here above

Now you
my good King
do a very good thing
and say in your heart what is true
so this Christmas morn
on the night He
was born
I return
your dear
children to
you...”

And
that very moment
the children breathed deep
their icy stares melted away
and choirs of angels
were heard
from afar
singing
“Peace
to all men
on this day!”

The
sound
of their joy
carried all through the land
as the soft angel song swiftly spread
and each servant breathed in
the deep breath
of life

their Dark Fear
was finally
dead

There
midst the music
The King’s heart was changed
and never again was the same
he gathered his children and
hugged them with joy
then to his whole Kingdom
proclaimed

“The
winters may come
and the winters may go
and the snows and
the seasons
depart

But
I’ll ever
hold dear this
one day of the year and
keep Christmas here
in my heart!”

And so
ever more
like that Kingdom
of yore

‘Tis
a Child
who shows us
the way

And
His Message
and Magic shall not
be forgot

Nor the
meaning of each
Christmas Day

‘Twas
way and away
way far away
in a land
never touched
by time

There
once lived A King
just a legend
some say

Who
learned well
the reason for
this joyous
season

The Story of Christmas
The Story of Peace

A story for
your heart
and mine