A Bleak Christmas (Poetry)

Tonight it is well below freezing
and I think of the ones sleeping rough
on the streets of our town dark and dreary
those poor souls without money enough

for the rent — the expense of mere living
day to day with the costs soaring so
those cruel letters that threatened eviction
then the nightmare of no place to go

How do parents tell their trusting children
Santa Claus won’t be coming this year?
There’s no toys, sweets or cake, and no crackers
wishes dashed so their hopes disappear

Like the song — it’s the bleakest of winters
while the heartless sleep warm in their bed
politicians ignore public protests
for democracy’s practically dead

Profits chanted by rich city bankers
and investors just there for the take
drown out our tradition’s fine carols
now the holly is China’s cheap fake

Thin Charity begs in a doorway
the shelves of her cupboard near-bare
yet some passersby show compassion
as much as tight budgets can spare

In churches they light festive candles
and they hold midnight mass as before
barely heeding the words of the lesson
but sit smug — only glad they’re not poor