Save Santa Claus – the poem
It was somewhere in the city, in the middle of a mall,
That the children gathered to hang out as they responded to the call.
They were from all different backgrounds but had a common cause,
To prove the authenticity of the centre’s Santa Claus.
And their unity of purpose was inspirational and strong –
They had very little evidence, but such numbers can’t be wrong.
And they believed their Christmas presents depended on success,
Though their plan was quite uncertain, but conviction nothing less.
They’d received gifts marked “from Santa” that came on Christmas Night,
To prove this Santa was the source – was the purpose of their fight.
Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ
It was elsewhere in the city, in a building tall and sleek,
That a decision was decided to sack Santa in a week.
Those voting were distinguished by their serious demeanour,
They had no imagination, and none of them believers.
All they cared about was record sales and the ever growing buck,
That most kids believed in Santa, they didn’t give a fuck.
These men in suits decided that this Santa had to go
To make way for better strategies that would make their profits grow.
And they sent a representative to the mall to intervene,
But he came across more children than he had ever seen.
Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ
Now my readers can imagine the reception this man got
As he tried approaching Santa, in the middle of that lot.
He was there to serve him notice that he had one week to go,
But the kids, they wouldn’t let him, and their ire they let him know.
“This Santa is the real thing, and you can’t prove that he’s not,
So go back to your ivory tower. Your stupid plan is shot!”
They circled around Santa so the man could not encroach,
He was forced to slink off quietly, like a most unwelcome roach.
Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ ∞ Φ
In a mall within this city, where the children took a stand,
An important precedent was set that you will understand.
Don’t bow down to authority if your heart tells you they’re wrong,
If other voices join with yours, united you’ll be strong.
This Santa still works at the mall, and kids sit on his knee,
Telling him the gifts they want, placed beneath the Christmas tree.
by John Hansen © 2016
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
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Bravo! Kudos to you, John. I love this poem. How dare the big shots try to give Santa the boot. Score big for the kids. Well done.
Thank you Phyllis, yes, united the kids won. Glad you enjoyed this.
A wonderful joyful story John, with a great message that is so relevant these days, with all the political crap we are forced to put up with. Excellent work my friend.
Delightful with a capital D!
Lori, thank you with a capital “T”.
Darling John, sad are those who would steal the magic that lights a child’s eyes, for profit. Boo, Hiss. Very nice piece, with the good spirit of a happy end. 🙂
Best,
Mel
It is always good to aim for a happy ending, Mel, especially when it comes to children and Christmas. It’s good to put the big guys in their place. Glad you enjoyed this.
Thanks, Tony. Sorry I missed replying to your comment earlier.
I love Christmas poetry. I am so happy the Big Man will have a shout out in our collection. Jamie
Thanks Jamie, I enjoy Christmas poems too.ant thought I would write and include it in our book in the hope it is published before Christmas. I borrowed the style of one of my favourite poets.. A.B. Banjo Paterson.
Glad Santa got to keep his job. Nicely penned.
Thank you, Nithya. Can’t have an out of work Santa at Christmas.