The Same Dear Hand
This touching poem by Eugene Field reflects on the joy of Christmas and the lasting comfort of holding the hand of someone you love.
Updated November 24, 2025, by Catherine Pulsifer
Christmas often brings back our sweetest memories, and this poem captures that tender feeling of love that stays steady through the years. As the bells ring and the world grows quiet under winter’s snow, the simple act of holding a familiar hand becomes a reminder of the joy we have shared and the blessings that continue to shape our lives. Whether you read this for someone special or simply to warm your own heart, may this poem encourage you to treasure the love that has walked beside you through every season.
The Same Dear Hand
Poet: Eugene Field
The bells ring out a happy sound,
The earth is mantled o'er with white,
It is the merry Christmas night.
And love, and mirth, and joy abound.
And here sit you and here sit I -
I should be happiest in the land.
For oh! I hold the same dear hand
I've held for many a year gone by.
It is not withered up with care -
It is as fresh and fair to see -
As sweet to hold and dear to me
As when with chimes upon the air.
On Christmas nights of years ago
I held the same dear little thing.
And felt its soft caresses bring
The flushes to my throbbing brow.
Ah, we were born to never part -
This little hand I hold to-night,
And I - so with strong delight
I press it to my beating heart.
And in the midnight solemn hush,
I bless the little hand I hold -
In broken whispers be it told -
It is the old time bob-tail flush.
Key Message in this poem:
- The beauty of lasting love
The poem reminds us that love grows sweeter with time. Holding the same dear hand through the years becomes one of life’s greatest blessings.
- Christmas deepens treasured memories
Christmas brings back moments of joy from long ago, allowing us to feel again the warmth and affection we shared in younger days.
- The gift of companionship
The poem celebrates the comfort of sitting with someone you love. It shows how simple moments together can fill the heart with peace and gratitude.
- Love that remains steady and true
Even as years pass, the hand held at Christmas still carries the same tenderness. This steady love becomes a source of strength and joy.
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Conclusion
As we read this touching Christmas poem, we are reminded that some of life’s greatest gifts are not found under a tree but are held in the moments we share with someone we love. The steady hand we have held through the years brings comfort, joy, and gratitude that only grow stronger with time. May this poem inspire you to pause this Christmas, treasure the people who walk beside you, and give thanks for the love that warms your heart year after year.
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