Alfie the Christmas Tree

When I was young, one Christmas tradition my family upheld without fail was to listen to John Denver and The Muppets, A Christmas Together. One track that always spoke to me wasn't even a song, it was a poem written and spoken by Denver himself. Here it is, my Christmas sentiments for you:

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree
Who just didn't want to change the show?
He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels
He liked icicles and snow.

He liked wolves, and eagles, and grizzly bears
And critters and creatures that crawled
Why, bugs were some of his very best friends;
Spiders and ants and all.

Now that's not to say that he ever looked down
On a vision of twinkling lights
Or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes
And a thousand other delights.

And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer
And a jolly old man in a sleigh
Full of toys, and presents, and wonderful things
And the story of Christmas day.

Oh, Alfie believed in Christmas, alright
He was full of Christmas cheer
All of each and every day
And all throughout the year.

To him it was more than a special time,
Much more than a special day
It was more than a special story,
It was a special kind of way.

You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring
And they've never heard of Santa Claus
They've never heard the story of the son of God.
That made Alfie pause;

Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on Earth
Or the brotherhood of man?
Or know how to love? Or know how to give?
If they can't- no one can.

You see, life is a very special kind of thing
Not just for a chosen few;
But for each and every living, breathing thing
Not just me and you.

So in your Christmas prayers this year
Alfie asked me if I'd ask you-
Say a prayer for the wind, and the water, and the wood
And those who live there, too.