These Are My JOTtings...

The Eve of Christmas Eve

The Eve of Christmas Eve is quite
an int'resting, dear place
For 'morrow starts the festive night,
when Santa runs his race.

Today I saw my fav'rite store
begin to shelve the wares.
The after-Christmas season bore
the heavy weight of cares.

All retail sales must think ahead
to ready what comes next.
We have to put the Day to bed,
before we read it's text.

The shoppers wore each tired face
as running marathon.
Each step of Life seems out-of-place.
We stop before we're done.

Saint Valentine's sits in the back
of store, while shoppers clear
the shelves of Christmas' woeful lack
with Christmas Day so near.

Soon comes the spring as flowers bloom
and Easter bunnies hop.
The days of sweltering sun, then loom
to raise the farmers' crops.

Upon the beach we're lotion glazed
and tanned with but few lines,
Then towel-wrapped we shop amazed
with Christmas products primed.

The Christmas marathon will end,
but two days hence I see,
Then Christmas music stays as friend
to constant comfort be.

by Jay O'Toole
on December 23rd, 2017