Of Christmas Bizz

It was a busy time of year no doubt of that
preparations put paid to friendly chit-chat
gifts, and decorations special food beyond the norm
and dining tables to be set with the usual fizz and form
Dad ordered the alcohol, Mum the turkey and goose
with orders that the children would be of some use
Grandpa in his rocking chair had seen it all before
his daughter was a marvellous cook at age forty-four
his granddaughter was shaping up for womanhood
and though she loved her tennis it was understood
that school was to be completed it would set her up for life
whether a businesswoman or someone's pretty wife
still something was missing he could not understand
the hollowness in the preparation of the traditional plan
he watched his grandson Mark in the garden, cricket bat the key
and equally the part of the Norfolk pine chosen as the tree
2
Grandpa ventured out with Mark next day
for shopping and ice cream along the way
they wandered down a side street seeing a pile of packaged foam
it appeared to represent somebody's home
Mark's face was deathly pale, he could not take it in
a homeless person in a street very close to him?
the image did not leave him and he spoke to Mum
(who had asked why he was looking so glum)
3
She decided to go with him the very next day
with a few food essentials purchased on the way
there was a lonely older man who looked very sad
remembering the kind of life he once had
Mum could not stand it she rallied her troops
telling the minister so he would be in the loop
they found a place of shelter for the man who had no name
and Mum insisted he come to dinner and when he came
she said it would be a pleasure if on Christmas Day
he would come back for dinner there was too much food anyway
There are many these days without a place to stay
some are lucky if charity comes their way
4
At the birth of our Saviour where a census was made
all the inn rooms were taken, already paid
what was left was the stable and dirty hay
Mary laid her baby in the manger anyway
shepherds and wise men followed a guiding star
the most joyous of all spectacles by far
born into poverty this little King
could relate to those of us who have nothing
no guilt intended here, let that be understood
enjoy your day anyway, especially the food