That time of year has come again;

small children drive their folks insane.

But still we hold our darlings near

remembering this time of cheer

when in our day we pestered too

for some toys that we all knew

were the secret to great joy

and not some advertisers ploy

to pry more money from Dad’s claw

and teach us that we needed more.

To get more things became the way

to prove our worth on Christmas day.

Beneath the hype of advertising

we saw a new trend slowly rising

when festivals of any sort

were measured by the things we bought

with no thought given to what’s real;

communities and how we deal

with all that’s missing from their core –

the hunger, hatred, so much more.

So give a thought when they just whine

and we drown sorrows with sweet wine

that it was our capitalistic thrust

that made possessions the great must

and when they whine for one more toy

try to explain ‘bout love and joy.