A MISERLY TALE Today’spoem
Harrison Scrooge was a millionaire, like his forebear Ebenezer, He made his pile from stocks and shares. A tight-wad of a geezer! Of course, he knew about Christmas ghosts and those macabre scenes, But that had happened years ago. Money was in his genes. He never gave to charity. He didn’t see the point, Even when folk derided him, his nose was rarely out of joint. ‘Leave it to the powers that be . . . What do I pay my taxes for?’ He never lost a wink of sleep. Didn’t see it as a flaw. Until, that is, one stormy night, I believe a Christmas Eve, And Harrison was studying form. He was anything but naive. When suddenly, his lamp powered off, flickered, then died the death,
He was plunged into total darkness. It made him catch his breath! Luckily, there was a torch to hand, for occasions such as this, And he opted for an early night, to give the storm a miss. As he started up the balustrade, grotesque shapes formed in the hall, Created by his dancing beam, as it moved along the wall. He thought he felt a presence and glanced from side to side, A howling wind! A tingling scalp! A frightful duo to abide! Out of the blue — it made him jump — came a sudden rapping on the door, So loud and so persistent, he was shaken to the core. It was followed by a moaning sound. The wind? He wasn’t sure, Still, he clambered down to answer. It must be something quite obscure. ‘Is there anybody there?’ he croaked, his throat as dry as dust, His imagination running wild — was there no one he could trust? Then he heard the sound of music. It boomed above the storm, Lights flashed around in unison. It was anything but the norm! He flung the door wide open . . . and drank in Santa on his sleigh, Festooned with seasonal trappings. It was a brilliant display. ‘Joy to the world’ rang out. The carol was heaven-sent, It brought the message home to him. He knew what Christmas meant. Ashamed of being a miser, he vowed to end his life of greed, And filled old Santa’s bucket with lots of cash for those in need.
Les Stafford, Horwich, Lancs.