The roar of the fire
neighbours knock at the door,
the smell of plum duff in the steamer
this is what Christmas was like before,

before?

yes
in the olden days
when you broke a tooth on the silver sixpence
but it didn't spoil your appetite
when you waited up half the night to see
Santa but then you fell asleep
when you have nuts and an orange in your stocking
and a florin for you to keep.

and now
Santa's on a skateboard
the fire has roared its last,
everything's run on a shoestring
( oh wait, that was those Christmas's past )

nothing's the same if it ever was
except for the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz
and he was a bit ' how's your father'

More turkey
Tofurky?
it's eerie,

I hum and haw
until my brain is sore
then remember that there's
*** in the pantry.