Christmas…Look at all those presents, packed under the tree

Two for Mum. One for Dad, and Thirty six for me.

Quick! Rip off that paper! Don’t give it a thought…

You want to know just what it is that other people bought…

An X-box or a DS.

An Apple ipod next.

Does this new mobile phone do video as well as text?

Almost one hour later

You’re still unwrapping more.

Ah, poor thing. You must be hungry. It really is a chore…

Dinner will revive you.

And soon you’ll feel quite stuffed

As down you guzzle four large courses

(Through which you huffed and puffed). Didn’t we enjoy it.

Did Dad like his tie?

Did he just sneak another drink of whiskey on the sly?

There is one thing to ask yourself

When you weigh up what was bought

For others much less fortunate

Perhaps deserve a thought.

Like the person who walked ten hard miles

Just to get a drink

As you groaned at washing up

(and that was in the sink).

Like the person in a war torn place

Whose family is not together

Or the person who is homeless

Due to extreme, stormy weather

Everyone has hopes and dreams for just what lies in store.

But perhaps we need to think a little when we’re demanding more…

This poem’s main intention

Wasn’t to sadden (or depress)

But merely to point out that there

Are problems to address…

Christmas is a happy time

To laugh, indulge and scoff.

And perhaps a time to spare a moment’s thought

For others less well off.

M F Cowan (2008) For more see www.poemsforgeography.blogspot.com