A COVID Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through our houses,
Was the glow of our smart phones, and the snoring of spouses.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the ‘Rona had not been spread there.

Old Emmy and Griswold were snug in their beds,
While visions of doggie treats danced in their heads.
And Mom with her Lysol, and Dad with his mask,
Disinfected the kitchen and bathrooms at last.

When on CNN there arose such a clatter,
I turned off my podcast to see what was the matter.
“A NEW STRAIN OF COVID FOUND IN THE U.K.”
It seems that this virus is going to stay…

And doubting if distance and shutdowns will spare us,
I switched it to Fox to watch Biden and Harris.
They said, “Here’s the deal, we’ve got some new plans.
“Let’s all wear our masks — and please wash your hands!”

And when someone mentioned, “Well that’s nothing new…”
Old Joe boiled with anger, and Kamala too.
“Come on, man!” he sneered, “I’ve covered by bases.”
“I’ve laid it all out — now don’t be a racist!”

The news was unnerving, more bad things to hear,
I wondered what else could go wrong with this year.
From COVID to fires and canceled receptions,
To radical protests and fraud in elections.

I turned off the TV, and noticed the snow,
Gave luster of midday to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
An Amazon van — my package is here!

With a little old driver, I squinted to see,
I knew right away it was Dr. Fauci!
With manners like no other person has seen,
He went door to door with a box of vaccines.

“On Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer with cheer!
Moderna and Novavax soon will be here!
From the tops of the hills to the end of the street,
Trump’s end-of-year deadline we surely will meet!”

But that wasn’t all — I saw something else,
A sleigh full of toys and a jolly old elf!
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

“Oh, Santa!” I said as I held back a tear.
Have you come bearing gifts for a better new year?
“Perhaps” said old Santa, “depends on your wish.”
“I don’t recall seeing or reading your list.”

“Never mind,” I replied. “I do not want to keep you.
If anything, I am just happy to meet you!”
“Now that’s quite alright,” said Santa in whisper.
“I’ve got lots of time, and I’m quite a good listener.”

I spent twenty minutes explaining the year,
Expressing my doubts and concerns and my fear,
I talked about earthquakes and civil defiance,
And Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and then Kobe Bryant.

Olympics were postponed and travel was banned,
Contention with China and war in Iran.
The old and the feeble sequestered, alone,
And COVID had made it so church was at home.

The year has been long and our spirits are tired,
Our grit and our patience have all but expired.
Vacations were canceled, some salaries cut,
And shopping and take-out are pains in the butt.

I rambled and gestured and paced back and forth,
And Santa just nodded and muttered “Of course.”
And then when I finally started to calm,
Old Santa stood up, and he sang me a song.

(Sing Auld Lang Syne)
We two have run about the hills,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

I never considered the song Santa sang,
They sing it on New Year’s — it’s always the same.
I looked at old Santa and bade him to tell,
His answer was thoughtful, he answered me well.

“Time goes by,” said Santa, “That’s what’s meant by the tune.
I heard it one night at the North Pole saloon!
I sing it to usher off years best forgotten,
With hopes that the next one is not quite as rotten.

“I’ve seen many years and I’ve seen lots of trials,
Received lots of letters that stack up in piles.
But nothing I bring can make bitter years right.
If that’s what you’re after, tonight’s not your night.

“Let’s leave out the worst and remember the best.
There’s much that you have more than all of the rest.
You have your good health and the warmth of a home,
Surrounded by loved ones that call you their own.

“Your trees are surrounded with presents galore,
And I’ll prob’ly leave you a few boxes more.
You must be more grateful and humble and kind,
To welcome a new year and ‘auld lang syne.’”

He placed some more packages under my tree,
He drank up the milk and ate cookies all three.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

Old Santa is right, I’ve had it all wrong.
Sometimes all the answers are in a folk song.
I truly possess what I want and some more,
And next year’s a bright one; of this I am sure.

So even though COVID will not go away,
We still can be friendly and grateful each day.
And there by my Christmas tree, lessons were learned,
I felt more at peace and a lot less concerned.

As I made my way back up the stairs to my room,
I heard what I thought was a whistling tune.
I peered out the window and to my delight,
I saw Santa’s shadow cast from the moonlight.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, with his christmasy cheer—
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good year!”