Night After Christmas

Moira Gee of Monifieth has written this poem, which is sure to strike a chord. (With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore) ‘Twas the night after Christmas, I felt a right grouse. We’d just had the worst Christmas Day in this house The debris and chaos around me was scattered Though no-one was watching, the TV still chattered I remember the day starting well, hours ago. I woke up quite happy, I wasn’t to know That spending the day with all those I hold dear Would leave me bereft of all Christmas cheer. It began with the singing, so loud and so merry Apparently Grandma had opened the sherry. Now don’t get me wrong, we really don’t mind But by then it was only a quarter to nine! Next thing was Aunt Mary, so lively and quick More work than the kids – always up to some trick. But this time, God bless her, the one I should blame Is whoever said ‘let’s play the Strictly game’ Oh dash it, those dancers, their prancing and twisting Encouraged Aunt Mary to jive round the kitchen Then into the sun-room and back to the hall Where she crashed into Grandad who headered the wall. The cure for a shock, Grandad claimed as the truth Was to knock back some whisky of high percent proof Then Mary, who now had both feet on the ground Alerted me to a most worrying sound. It took me but half a short moment to shoot Back into the kitchen where the dog, the fly brute, Had run in behind me, all sneaky and sly And was wolfing his way through our Christmas steak pie. We watched in despair as the great greedy beast Made very short work of our Christmas Day feast. I couldn’t helping sobbing, it just wasn’t fair I’d worked long and hard and taken such care. Dear hubby and I tried to deal with the crisis, Searching the freezer for whatever was nicest, Needs must but the shameful memory lingers Of Christmas Day roasties and sprouts and fish fingers After lunch we exchanged Christmas gifts from the tree But hubby had mislaid his present to me There followed a rumpus from both of the boys Cos Grandad was playing with all their new toys Later, I told myself ‘Could have been worse’, But a final straw gave me more reason to curse Said a voice from the telly, so cheery and bright, ‘Happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight’.

Content to feel right

A thought to ponder from Sydney J. Harris: “Maturity begins when we’re content to feel we’re right about something without feeling the necessity to prove someone else wrong.” If you have a story for Craigie email: craigie@thecourier.co.uk