The NATIVITY

The Argos brochure would suffice
they'd chosen something rather nice
not boxer shorts or woolly socks
and chocolates in a fancy box.

Perhaps they should've reconsidered
the kind of gift to hand deliver
which present would a child prefer
Gold or Frankincense or Myrrh?

To a little town called Bethlehem
a star that guided three wise men
to Joseph and his wife Mary
who ventured forth from Galilee.

Their day began in sheer frustration
he hadn't made the reservation
he'd packed their luggage carefully
but hadn't booked the B & B.

Evening approached, Joseph was able
to find them shelter in a stable
and there amongst the bales of hay
a child would herald Christmas Day.

Safe and cozy in his manger
Jesus now faced mortal danger
King Herod callously deployed
his soldiers to locate the boy.

Run him through, dispatch the infant
inform the king the very instant
this gruesome task had been fulfilled
it did not matter who they killed.

His troops were easily outsmarted
the family had by now departed
towards the valley of the kings
laden down by their belongings.

That's the story, the Nativity
a celebration now held globally.

If you're not entirely satisfied
baby Jesus ever lived or died
and you're not the kind of person
who enjoys the Dickens version.

Because you've tried to emulate
that miser we all love to hate
who after ghostly intervention
proved more worthy of redemption.

But if BAH HUMBUG must be said
why bother getting out of bed?

You may just as well sit tight
get ready for a sleepless night
stakes of holly through the chest
and several uninvited guests.

To haunt your season of goodwill
because, no doubt you've had your fill
of all the Merry Christmas cheer
that comes around but once a year.

Perhaps you think it is a ploy
and giving children little toys
is a really clever way
of sabotaging Christmas Day.

By now, you should've reconciled
a gift presented to a child
began two thousand years ago
without a single flake of snow.

No roasted turkey, brandy sauce
flying reindeer, Santa Claus
Christmas puddings, mistletoe
traditions we've all come to know.

Undoubtedly there is a reason
why we celebrate this season
but somewhere just along the way
we've lost the essence of this day

If giving gifts makes perfect sense
maybe Gold and Frankincense
is perhaps a little too ambitious
simple gifts with Christmas wishes
you may think extremely tacky
will make somebody really happy.

Don't take for granted that you're free
to hand out presents annually
that privilege may be lost tomorrow
and this could bring you endless sorrow.

Even if you don't believe
avoid the ghosts, Christmas Eve
for one day always remember
how it felt late December
when you were an adolescent
unwrapping those Christmas presents.