(winter Poems) Christmas Commercial Poem by Janice Windle

The spirit of Christmas
is lying in wait for me
round corners of raw streets
where neighbours in thin
Santa disguises
grin and shake charity tins.

I am ambushed
by children with shining faces
and velour antlers
with bells on, singing songs
that drown my eyes with memories.

I keep my bah humbug tongue
in my cheek, remembering
that more tills than bells are ringing out.
Let's all be of good cheer, because we're told
that spending Christmas spending
might keep away recession in New Year.