A consequence in modern times of there being only 54 days between the end of October and the arrival of Christmas is that there are only 54 shopping days between the end of October and Christmas. No similar limit applies to the number of times during this season when you may be asked to enjoy, for example, ‘Rocking Around The Christmas Tree’.
This second poem from the group at St Martin’s which encourages people who are homeless to express themselves in creative writing comes from ‘Smelling It Straight – Writing from St Martin-in-the-Fields 2001’. Like the first poem (reproduced at the end of January for Homelessness Sunday) this poem is not religious, or a prayer. It does describe piercingly, through its author’s vision, part of the landscape of our society.
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NINE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Get a job and some money for the kids and me!’
On the second day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the third day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Four playstations, three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Five mobile phones, four playstations, three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Six table and chairs, five mobile phones, four playstations, three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Seven Bond videos, six table and chairs, five mobile phones, four playstations, three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love said to me:
‘Eight telly tubbies, seven Bond videos, six table and chairs, five mobile phones, four playstations, three roast turkeys, two Raleigh bikes and some money for the kids and me.’
On the ninth day of Christmas I said to my true love:
‘I’m divorcing you.’
Chris Spink
Just a second