Dickens you touched my heart
through witness of your love for our Lord;
when I visited the home where you were born,
God had graces held in store.

Recalling your many writings
that have moved hearts through the years,
I thought of "A Christmas Carol"
and how it often prompted tears.

I thought of little "Tiny Tim"
and the empathy you showed
as you taught your many readers
of the importance of love-filled souls.

You were a man of social action
and though you stumbled on life's path
the excellent writings you left us
reveal the true inner Spirit you had.

The sufferings and trials you bore
opened up the way for you,
to reveal the injustices you saw
through stories sharing your view.

God blessed you with a gift of genius
and a sensitive, imaginative soul,
allowing you to change the world
in ways that will never grow old.
------------------------
Written in England after a visit to
the home where Charles Dickens was born.
(c) Viola Doncaster, April 1996.