A Poem For The Festive Season

[Hugh_Jones]

(With apologies to John Betjeman)


`Twas the night before Christmas, and away down the street,
the silence was broken by scurrying feet,
the rustling of bags, and the clanking of tools,
and the light from the torches made glimmering pools.
A different sound beckoned, and, looking, I saw
A man with a wheelbarrow go past the door.
I hastily donned my coat and my hat,
and followed along to see what they were at.
To the gates of the lottie the multitude went,
And I wondered what mischief was their intent;
But into the lottie they all made their way,
Their torches making it all bright as day,
Their feet now were silent, and the only sound
Was the clang of their forks on the iron hard ground,
as the carrots and parsnips emerged from the clay â€"
prize plants they`d been saving for many a day,
and cabbage and Brussels sprouts picked by the score
and leeks and Swedes, oh and lots and lots more.
And `twas then that I realised what was the reason
For all this activity at night, out of season.
As the gardeners all hauled their fresh produce away
To be gorged on in platefuls on Christmas Day.

And as I walked back I looked up to the sky,
And a strange sight met my astonished eye;
A bearded old man in a red dressing gown
Was driving a sleigh high up over the town,
And he swooped down low as he saw the crowd,
And as he drove over he shouted out loud,
“Whatever you do, don`t put those in the pot â€"
my reindeer had diarrhoea all over the lot”

[Hugh_Jones]

[gavin]

Nice one, Hugh - that's my job tomorrow.  And I gave up believing in Santa last year - so I can safely forget the second verse!   (I think ????)

All best - Gavin

[Suze_O]

It's a cracker Hugh  :D

I can see with you being off line Weds to Sat this week we will all be suffering withdrawal symptoms ..... :(

Hope you'll be back with a bang ::)

[busy_lizzie]

Hugh that was fantastic!  ;D I am off to our allotment tomorrow to pick my choice Brussel Sprouts for Christmas dinner, hope the ground isn't too frozen as we have snow here.   Have a very merry Christmas with your family, and we all look forward to more of your  eloquent prose in the New Year.   :D  busy_lizzie  

[SueT]

That was so funny it really cheered me up   ;D.........anyone want a nasty cold?  Just kidding,I wouldn`t wish this on anyone!  ;)

[Mrs Ava]

hey Hugh, how are you coping with your God like status?   ;D  What comes next, I mean, what could come after being a God!!! (and shouldn't I be a Goddess?)

[Doris_Pinks]

Nice one Hugh  ;D  Afraid all  I have left on my lottie now is Chard n Leeks.so no picking for me :(

[mysticmog]

Ew!  Hugh!  
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Mxx