The house is empty now, br And lonely in its abandonment. br The family who used to be here, br The one who kept the house warm, br And lived in and loved, br Has gone far, far away. br br Death has taken the grandparents, br The history keepers, the ones br With tales to tell of 'How it used to be, ' br And 'When I was young! ' br And anger and betrayal took the br Husband and the Wife, tearing br Then apart, no longer a couple. br br And adulthood has moved the children br To the distant corners of the world, br No longer to be part of the laughter br Which kept the house alive and happy. br And their children no longer know about br The house where love lived, br br And Christmas was a time of love and joy, br With popcorn and berries strung on a tree br Which the family went after all together. br Shiny tinsel no longer decorates the tree, br Flung there with childish abandon, and glee. br br No wreath hangs on the empty doorway, br No mistletoe dances in the hallway, br Awaiting the loving couple who kissed br Underneath its swaying ball, and there are br No cookies and milk waiting Santa Claus. br br So the house sits, waiting and abandoned, br As lonely as only an empty house can be, br Windows boarded over, doors locked, br Shutters closed, against the time when br It hopes someone will return again.