‘Twas the night before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas,
and here on the farm
the fog kept on coming
Dogs slept, barely warm.
While I curled and dreamt
Of my paycheck, the sum
the bare compensation
for how crazy I’ve become.
(To and fro, to and fro
In darkness I come,
and in darkness I go.)
Singles, doubles and junkfood
are all that I see
And the nearest delinquents
Housed out at juvie.
But! Back to Christmas,
I’m steeped in the spirits
(With four bottles’ help)
Considering merits
Of child after child,
Dog after dog,
‘Till my mind goes on strike,
and in rolls the fog.
But Christmas came on,
Relentlessly bearing
Its halls decked with holly,
and merrily wearing
A thousand red suits
Five million red cheeks
Eyes vacantly staring
At store windows for weeks.
Considering loans
For that toy and this
to fulfill a weak moment’s
Foolish promise.
Next year’s Christmas club
Will have to be bigger
(But I LOVE this season.)
Now, pass me the jigger.
So welcome home, friends,
Glad your wanders are over.
May I say the same, Christmas:
By March, I’ll recover