The Jingle Jog Sonnet Poem by Martin Ward

The Jingle Jog Sonnet

Which one of these was the real Santa Claus?
Six hundred of them ran Markeaton Park.
They ran to raise cash for a worthy cause,
or egged-on by a friend, just for a lark.
No reindeer here, but cars honked horns to cheer
a merry band that ran this chilly morn.
But would the great man suddenly appear,
to silence cynics who cast doubt and scorn
that Father Christmas comes to Derbyshire,
and runs five thousand meters in the park?
The smiling children knew that he was there:
they screamed with joy and wagging-tailed dogs barked.
From far-flung Buxton or Little Eaton,
Santas came to Jingle Jog Markeaton!