Drift-bark Santa

He was washed up

on the beach

at the Audubon center

once upon a time;

Just a piece of flotsam

or jetsom;

but we were looking for

just that sort of thing, so

into the gunny-sack it went

because we knew there was something

hidden in this piece of eroded tree bark;

it wouldn't have

a pointed hat

and a frizzly beard

just through the washing and scrubbing

back and forth

for who knew how long

in Lake Michigan's inexorable waves

at random,

at the whim of nature ........................

But it was summer, so

Santa wasn't on our mind. But,

now, just look, who else was it but

Santa?

Soon's we got him home

on the workbench

we recognized him!

(Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa, and he could be anywhere!)