A Lifetime of Christmas Poetry
My mom, Raynette Forister Eitel, passed away in September of 2022, age
85, drifting away into dementia. It was tragic to watch this woman who loved
words, who was a poet and teacher, fade away into wordlessness after a lifetime
of crafting poetry.
Mom had a tradition of writing a new Christmas poem each year and
sending it to friends and relatives. The mailing list grew each year, and
people always told us they looked forward to mom’s Christmas poems. She
published some in a couple little books. There are too many to post just once a
day during the month of December, but I’ll choose some of the best.
Only a Star
by Raynette Eitel
Only a star marked the place
Where a baby King was born.
Only a host of angels
Filled the far sky with their
Hallelujahs, their Peace on Earth.
Only a young mother gazed at the babe
With stars in her dazzled eyes.
Only a few shepherds came
With wonder on their faces
And grass stains on their weary feet.
Only the soft, silent sheep seemed to know
The Holy Night was a beginning
As three kings stumbled in bearing gifts,
Sharing fulfilled prophecy,
Daring the wrath of Herod.
The baby slept as though He
Did not know what was ahead.
Only a whole world changed forever.
Writing Rhetorically 