2013

This idea started by seeing the Christmas merchandise appearing in stores before Halloween.  When we combine that with waiting for the best prices to begin shopping, well, it gets interesting.

T’was two months before Christmas, and all through the stores,
Holiday merchandise had come out in scores.
Christmas sales were on with special sale pitches,
Overshadowing things like pumpkins and witches.

There were trees and Santas and reindeer galore,
Pushing aside Halloween like it was such a bore.
Forget about candy, forget the treats.
Christmas is the holiday that cannot be beat.

The lights were so bright, I was all agog,
I stood there and stared, I was in such a fog.
The prices enticed me to look all around,
The wonder of it all just waiting to be found.

Incentives to buy were posted everywhere,
Don’t miss this. Don’t miss that. It was too much to bear.
Should I start my shopping?  Should I pass up these sales?
If I wait for tomorrow would lower prices prevail?

T’was one month before Christmas, and all through the stores,
Decorations were up, there were lines out the doors.
Black Friday was near, it was almost Thanksgiving,
But I was having a nightmare that I kept reliving.

The holiday music was playing, oh how cheerful,
It left me queasy and shaking and oh so fearful.
Is it the time?  Should I now start my shopping?
Should I go all night til I end up dropping?

Should I dive in right now?  Should I go for the deals?
Should I try that on and see how it feels?
But better sales are coming.  Of this I am sure.
With much better prices, more things I’ll procure.

T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the fireplace with care.
There was nothing to fill them, except maybe air.

I was out at the mall, which was horribly crowded,
My plans to buy gifts had become somewhat clouded.
The shelves were quite bare, most items were gone,
Including the displays usually out on the lawn.

I kept at it though, until the bell, it did chime,
And a voice announced loudly, “It’s Closing Time.”
Without any gifts, I just headed home,
Should I go straight there, or should I just roam?

No toys for Bobby.  No clothes for Sue.
It was so cold my hands had turned blue.
The snow on the street was so clean and so white,
It gave peaceful calm to this most silent night.

When I approached the house, I saw something amiss,
There were strange tracks in the yard, I couldn’t believe this.
I rushed inside and saw a man standing there,
Over by the tree next to the comfortable chair.

At first I thought that he must be a robber.
Then the dog jumped up and covered me with slobber.
He was dressed all in red, not your typical black,
His motions said “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”

He was putting things out, not taking them away.
He winked and he smiled and started to say,
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson, and next year won’t wait.
After all you see what happens when you procrastinate.”

When he was done, his sack he did close,
Then shouldered it, and winked, and up the chimney he rose.
He jumped in his sleigh pulled by eight ‘deer,
And leapt into a night sky so clear.

Now I understood, and don’t know why it was hard,
But I knew what made the tracks in the yard.
And then I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, next year don’t wait til midnight.”

Copyright 2013 by

Brian and Shirley Dean