Commercial Christmas By Mark Walmsley

At last it's here the twenty fifth of December The excitement, anticipation all our friends we remember Food and presents, decorations in all their glory Candles, mistletoe, mulled wine, chestnuts and holly But in the North Pole, all is misery and gloom No elves are working, no toys in any room Last Christmas used all the money that was left Father Christmas's business account of money is bereft Children at last sleep, they have waited all year They have put out milk for Santa and a carrot for reindeer All is silent and crisp, white snow covers the land All has been prepared, now it's in Santa's hand

But Rudolph does not work anymore, as he has received no pay All the elves went out on strike, two weeks before Christmas day Father Christmas, gave away all his gifts, against his accountants advice Now he has turned to drink and drugs, and sleeps in the stable at night Tears of sorrow, misery and woe, on what should be a happy morn The milk undrunk, the carrot untouched, no presents or new jumpers worn No new bicycles in the street, or full stockings containing happy things Father Christmas did not slide down one chimney, nor a present did he bring The rundown factory at Toyland, a 'For Sale' sign on the door Santa wakes up with a hangover and projectile vomits on the floor His once proud red uniform, now brown and stained with bile His sleigh has been re possessed and a prosecution order filed The innocent children look up into the sky, 'he is just late that's all' 'Yes he will be here tomorrow, you'll see, he will come to call' In preparation they get, for a late Christmas day, a Pagan ritual true 'I have been a good boy this year, have you been one too?' Father Christmas wept, as he looked at his picture on a cheery card 'That was me that was' he sobbed pointing, 'in eighteen fifty five' 'I was happy, jolly and cheery, my sleigh packed with presents and gifts' Not a penny to his name and all disgraced, he took his knife and slit his wrists.

Copyright © Mark Walmsley 2009

thisisUll.com Featured Writer Mark Walmsley
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