A Christmas Poem

[Cole Parker]

 

-- A Christmas Poem --

 

“Dad, here’s my list: Christmas draws near.

It shows what presents I’d treasure this year.

Things I want most are up at the top

But the first one’s enough if you don’t want to shop.”

 

“Give it here, Bobby, and I’ll read it right now.

My money’s quite short, and I’m not a cash cow.

 

“Hmmmmmm.

 

“OK, I’ve read it, and it is not good

Please pay attention, and heed if you would.

 

“I’ve read the first entry, here’s what you chose—

Though it’s really quite silly, here’s how it goes:

‘All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.’

Do you see my problem, son? See my beef?

 

“The trouble, my boy, is not that you stammer

The trouble instead is your execrable grammar.

You must match your nouns to go with your verbs!

I find reading this list both irks and disturbs.

 

“As ‘two teeth’ now stands at the top of your list

Then ‘is’ should be ‘are’ so the list’s not dismissed.

And Santa, I’ve heard, is quite the fine linguist

And his sense of propriety is aptly distinguished.

 

“So write this again if you hope for some presents

From Santa or anyone—even your parents.”

 

~ Pause for consideration, and then ~

 

“I hear you, Dad, your voice is quite strong,

Unfortunately, though, your logic is wrong.

But I hear what you’re saying, I certainly get it

Though your flimsy excuse does not do you credit.

 

“You’re making things up to save spending cash

And destroying our grammar to maintain your stash.

You’re saying I need a more appropriate verb

To match up with the noun; you’re really absurd.

You wanted a plural verb, ‘cause two’s more than one

And so no presents there’ll be, not any, just none.

 

“Fie,” I say, “and pshaw, and, “oh my.”

How deceitful can one be should he but try?

But I can see through you—your argument’s specious

You’re pretending and faking and grossly capricious

 

"Because I know as well as you do

That you’re reasoning is simply abject hoodoo.

 

“I gave you a list of presents I’d like

And put atop it two teeth, then a bike.

But you didn’t want to spend that much dough

Yet needed a way too soften the blow.

 

"But honesty needs to be sung in this case

And yours is absurd and totally base.

 

“And so, dear Father, here is my brief:

The noun in that sentence was ‘ I’, not ‘teeth’

Because ‘What I want is’ beats ‘What I want are’

Your excuse is nonsense and frankly bizarre.

 

“The list stands as written; again please eyeball it

And if you need help to open your wallet

I’ll be happy to bring you a prying crowbar

Oh, and I’ll take the bike, too, hearty har har har har.

 

 C

[Rutabaga]

Not so much "abject hoodoo" as "bovine doodoo."

R

[Cole Parker]

Hey, write your own poem!       😀

[Merkin]

A lovely poem that's right on the money
and for bonus, too, it's really quite funny!
 

[Cole Parker]

Har har har har

[Camy]

Hmm.

[Camy]

Not the most Crimbley if you don't mind me sayin'
I'm so taken aback on my bed I'll be layin'
as I ponder the fact that he can't have a bike
'cause Rudloph's lead the reindeer on strike

[Cole Parker]

I always wondered if that red nose meant he was a socialist.

[Camy]

[Merkin]

All we see is his nose, but if you ever glimpse his other end you'll know why he's known as Rudy the Red.

[Camy]

Ewww!!!

[Rutabaga]

Is that what was meant by “reindeer games”?

R

[Bruin Fisher]

This is brilliant. Clever Cole!

I'm reminded of a comedy single from the 1960's, sung by British comedienne and actress Dora Bryan. Here's a verse from it:

All I want for Christmas is a Beatle.
Not a teddy bear, just a Beatle.
I told mum nothing else would do.
There are four, so she can have one too.
I don't care which ever one she gets me.
Ringo, Paul, John, George, they're all the same.
I can't wait for Christmas day to come
'Cause all I want for Christmas is a Beatle.

[Cole Parker]

Did she get one?

[Bruin Fisher]

5 hours ago, Cole Parker said:

Did she get one?

If she did, she never told.

[Cole Parker]

NEITHER DID HE!