Ghosts Of Christmas Past
Stuff the darn turkey and trim the darn tree,
Those words could put great fear in me,
I have to shop and I have to bake,
Immediately my legs would shake
Visitors will surely come to my place,
I'll have to act natural, keep a smile on my face,
Keep up a front even though I am dizzy,
Preparations would through me into a tizzy.
My family will expect an invite to dinner,
By Christmas the worry had made me much thinner,
Do I have enough gifts?
Who did I forget?
I rack my poor brain and break out in a sweat.
My china don't match, I don't have enough chairs,
I'll have to go borrow as I have in past years,
What about glasses for whiskey and wine?
I only have four, I used to have nine.
What will I wear?
I don't have many clothes,
I do have one dress and a black pair of hose,
Will I get through all this or will I collapse?
The pressure..anxiety..palpitations perhaps?
Will I walk in a fog with my eyes blurred and red?
With unreality looming just up ahead?
Will I be consumed with dread and despair?
And say to myself that it's just so unfair!
If nerve I got up to visit a friend,
The night would go on and on never seeming to end,
There I would sit on the edge of my seat,
Regretfully declining all offers to eat.
"Would you like a drink?"..."Yes, I'd like a Coke,"
They'd look at me strangely, think I'm making a joke,
Do I go through this for yet another year?
No way! I've had enough! Let me make myself clear!
That turkey won't bother me, just let it try,
And that sucker will wish that it really could fly,
And if I should burn it or if it's too rare,
They can eat it or leave it, I really don't care.
The lights for the tree are sure to be tangled,
And in previous years my hands would be mangled,
But I'll start early this year...like three weeks ahead,
Make sure they all work with not too many red,
And if I can't get the darn tree in position,
It can lie horizontal and to hell with tradition!
I'll bake lots of cookies, who cares if I shake,
I'll make a huge log and a big cherry cake,
Wait a minute! I'd better hold off on the logs,
We've eaten two already, now aren't we the hogs!
So I've only three glasses, so who gives a damn,
They can drink wine and whiskey from ones that held jam,
And the turkey and fixings will cover the plates,
So no one will bother to see if they're mates.
Let visitors come, they'll be welcomed, no fear,
I probably won't see them again 'til next year,
And I can have fun while just drinking Coke,
I can laugh, carry-on, enjoy things and joke.
There'll be enough gifts, I'll shop like an elf,
And the best part will be that I bought them myself,
If there's not enough glitter and too many socks,
I won't care, for I know I'm not Mrs. Gotrocks!
And while I'm out shopping, and I will be this year,
I'll push and I'll shove and I'll curse and I'll swear,
And I'll jostle and grumble and glare and complain
And I'll smile, call Merry Christmas, nice to see you again.
For too many years I worried and fretted,
Got myself in a state but now I won't let it
Get the better of me, I hope never no more
Will I let fear spoil Christmas like it used to before.
Christmas this year will hold laughter and cheer,
With hope that 2001 will be a good year,
To those who have panic, to whatever degree,
May this Christmas bring joy and sweet liberty.
Eileen Power
Christmas/88
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