As The World Sang Carols Poem by Nachiketa Deb

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
As the child, he sits outside,
Cold, shivering away.

Pungent smells from bakeries,
The bitter wind, it brings
Mocking you, o’ hungry Tim,
The Christmas songs they sing.

Eyes travel, to the grimy shirt,
Torn, tattered upon your breast,
Not long ago, you loved it so
It was your Sunday best.

The hoarse voice, was shrill before,
Hair combed n parted, neat.
No cold could ever touch me then,
No hunger ever did.

You helped me, pinning socks upon
The wooden mantle-piece
And just beside the chimney, put,
Milk and a few cookies.

“You have been naughty, Tim,
No presents will he bring.”
You scared me with a mock retort,
And left me, counting sins.

And as the stars, went high above,
You tucked me in my bed.
Lying down beside me, your
Gentle whisper, said..

“Sleep now, drift now, o’ dear child,
For morrow would be long,
Singing joyous songs and gifts
That Santa brings along.”

Morning light, brought Christmas day,
As I awoke with chill;
Why cold the touch, that mother gives?
Why eyes unblinking, still?

“Speak mother, to your loving child,
Wake up and dress me now,
The carols today, we shall sing
Would ring across the town.”

I begged of you, but yet you lay
Upon that bed of mine;
No words of love, you spoke again,
No warm embrace of thine.

And so today, the child he lay,
Cold, shivering away…
As the world, it celebrates
His saddest, coldest day.