‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land,
Not a leader was stirring, no promises planned.
The stocks were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that dividends soon would be there.
Our leader was nestled all snug in his bed,
No vision of poor people danced in his head.
And profits were high, his income so sweet,
Had just settled down for many more tweets.
When out in the streets, there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from euphoria to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, expecting more cash.
The moon on the breast of the new-voters’ glow,
Gave the luster of loyalty to subjects below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, full of people in fear.
With a little old lady, who smelled like rubble,
He knew in a moment it must be trouble.
More rapid than eagles her patriots came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now! Poverty, now! Homeless, now! Blacks, and Whites,
On, Muslims! On, Mexicans! On, Syrians and dikes!
To the top of the tower, to the top of the wall,
We’ve got nothing to lose, nothing at all!”
As food stamps that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the condo-top the poor people flew,
With the sleigh full of hope, and anxiety too.
And then in a tweeting, he got from the tower,
Their angst and fear of facing his power.
As the leader drew in, and was turning around,
Down the chimney the bag lady came with a bound.
She was dressed all in rags, from to her feet to her neck,
And her clothes were all shreds from leader’s neglect.
A bundle of bills she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a peddler just opening her pack.
Her eyes–how they squinted, like coals after fire,
Her cheeks were so hollow, her face frowned in ire.
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And her yellow teeth were like ‘don’t-eat’ snow.
The stump of a joint, she held loose in her teeth,
And the smoke it encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a thin face, and from the privation,
It cracked when she smiled, probably starvation.
She was angry and angst, a wronged old elf,
But the leader he laughed, in spite of himself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave him to know he had something to dread.
She went straight to her work, and ignored all her ills,
And burned all the stocks, and left all her bills.
And leaving her pack – what’s in it who knows?
Then giving a finger, up the chimney she rose!
She sprang to her sleigh, with her team still believin’,
And away they all flew, just trying to get even.
And he heard her exclaim, ‘ere she drove out of sight,
Happy greed to ‘The Donald,’ and to all a good-night!
Merry, Merry to all!
Excellent! Well done Dave! Merry Christmas
Extremely clever and poignant. Thank you, Dave!
A new Christmas classic Dave! Nicely done!
DAVID YOUR TALENTS ABOUND. WELL DONE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS
A classic with a sad reality check. Interesting times ahead.
Excellent work David. Lots to think about as usual!
Merry Christmas and we look forward to your brilliant work in the]
New Year. All the best.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the office Not a person was stirring, not even the bosses.
The numbers were run on computers with care
In hopes that new revenue soon would be there.
Employees were huddled in rows at their desks While red ink on spreadsheets danced as a test. And VPs in their meetings and I on the fly
Had just settled our brains that the numbers don’t lie.
When out in the market there arose such a clatter I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. Away to the touch screen I flew like a flash, Tore open the emails looking for cash.
The moon and the stars didn’t really align,
So I thought to myself “no bonus is mine.” When what to my wondering eyes should appear But a Fortune 500 in need of new gear, With a little old buyer so lively and quick,
I thought for a moment it might be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles the orders they came,
And we processed like crazy, like we were aflame. Now big deals, now huge deals, an order for service, More hardware, more software, it sure made me nervous.
Don’t worry ’bout credit, don’t let this stall,
To the top of the budget, we’re selling it all. Then purchasing agents, with their own fish to fry When they meet with an order they try to deny.
So up to their bosses the agents they flew With a fistful of orders and the rule book too. And then to my horror I heard at the top The hemming and hawing of the CFO cop.
As I thought all was lost and was mulling around Their CEO showed up with a scowl and a frown.
MTWABP
He was dressed for the Board in his tie and his suit, And he carried a briefcase with numbers to boot.
It looked like the Board had got on his back,
And he looked like a ghost that had just been knocked flat.
His eyes didn’t twinkle, he didn’t look merry,
His cheeks were quite sallow, his top aide was harried. His droll little mouth was drawn out like a bow, And his face was all ashen and white as the snow. The plans for next year he held tight in his fist, And he smoked from his ears, boy he was p….d.
But he had a bright mind and a plan for next year, And started to laugh, he needed that gear.
He was focused and sharp, a right jolly old boss, And I laughed ’cause I thought maybe all was not lost. A wink of his eye and a twist of his pen
Soon gave me to know we’d be out of the red.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work And signed all the P.O.s then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod drew the day to a close.
I sprang to my feet, to my team gave a whistle, Our sales just went up like the launch of a missile. And I had to exclaim “Saved our bonus alright!”
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night! (John Decker, with apologies to Clement Clark Moore.)
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the office
Not a person was stirring, not even the bosses.
The numbers were run on computers with care
In hopes that new revenue soon would be there.
Employees were huddled in rows at their desks
While red ink on spreadsheets danced as a test.
And VPs in their meetings and I on the fly
Had just settled our brains that the numbers don’t lie.
When out in the market there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the touch screen I flew like a flash,
Tore open the emails looking for cash.
The moon and the stars didn’t really align,
So I thought to myself “no bonus is mine.”
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a Fortune 500 in need of new gear,
With a little old buyer so lively and quick,
I thought for a moment it might be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles the orders they came,
And we processed like crazy, like we were aflame.
Now big deals, now huge deals, an order for service,
More hardware, more software, it sure made me nervous.
Don’t worry ’bout credit, don’t let this stall,
To the top of the budget, we’re selling it all.
Then purchasing agents, with their own fish to fry
When they meet with an order they try to deny.
So up to their bosses the agents they flew
With a fistful of orders and the rule book too.
And then to my horror I heard at the top
The hemming and hawing of the CFO cop.
As I thought all was lost and was mulling around
Their CEO showed up with a scowl and a frown.
He was dressed for the Board in his tie and his suit,
And he carried a briefcase with numbers to boot.
It looked like the Board had got on his back,
And he looked like a ghost that had just been knocked flat.
His eyes didn’t twinkle, he didn’t look merry,
His cheeks were quite sallow, his top aide was harried.
His droll little mouth was drawn out like a bow,
And his face was all ashen and white as the snow.
The plans for next year he held tight in his fist,
And he smoked from his ears, boy he was p….d.
But he had a bright mind and a plan for next year,
And started to laugh, he needed that gear.
He was focused and sharp, a right jolly old boss,
And I laughed ’cause I thought maybe all was not lost.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his pen
Soon gave me to know we’d be out of the red.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
And signed all the P.O.s then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod drew the day to a close.
I sprang to my feet, to my team gave a whistle,
Our sales just went up like the launch of a missile.
And I had to exclaim “Saved our bonus alright!”
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
(John Decker, with apologies to Clement Clark Moore.)
Fantastic!! Great reading – as ususal.