Among the Booze and Holly

a rhyming romp for the season

 

photo courtesy of funcheap.com

No, the weather is not icy

but I know when the holidays are near

when the words, “Ch Ch Chia”

on TV I incessantly hear!

 

The ultimate of presents

my favorite of them all

is the wonderful invention - the “Clapper,”

sold only on TV, not in the mall!

 

Tool sets for Dads and brothers

even if they’ll never use them

perfumes for Moms and sis,

so your nose can track and never lose them!

 

Whitman samplers dot the pages

of the Sunday ads,

Barney, Blues Clues, and Elmo,

for the younger lasses and lads!

 

Hershey kisses are now wrapped

in holiday tradition - red and green

ties and robes galore are sold

the ugliest you’ve ever seen!

 

Only a few shopping weeks left 

get ready for the shopping stampede

retailers are just tickled pink

it does wonders for their greed!

 

Don’t wait till the last moment to shop

my goodness, that would be a folly

or you may find yourself a casualty

among the booze and holly!

 

How can they sell all this merchandise?

They won’t, but never fear!

You can buy it all 50% off on December 26^th

Then save it for next year!

Author's Note

Even though I am in South Florida, we know the holiday season is upon us!

Reviews

[Desert Knave]

LOL. There is a simultaneous humor and cynicism throughout this and I can identify with so much of it... and any time I get the pleasure of seeing Lydia Shutter rhyme it is a pleasure sublime. A wonderful look at the "message" that seems to pervade Christmas. ~Jim

[Lydia Shutter]

((((Jim))))) I've been away a couple weeks and coming home to a comment from you is just great. hope all is well with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Lydi**

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

The empty lines, and full imagery are perplexing and fabulous at the same time, well done, good read.

[Lydia Shutter]

:) thank you. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

It full on. We do secret snowflake at school and last year the final gift I got was actually a dusty, dented old Chia pet for real. Now...I am not a greedy person but I have to say I did not participate again this year. Geez at least if you're going to regift something clean it off!

'Tis the season like a tsunami- you don't need snow to get in the holiday spirit these days just cash and credit. It's a fun poem Lydi.

[Lydia Shutter]

OMG...a Chia Pet....and a dusty one at that? How awful! Don't blame you for not participating this year! Have a Merry Christmas, Blue...and thanks for the review. lydi**

[Scott Metro]

An excellent glimpse into the fun and folly....

Scott

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you, Scott. Lydi**

[Ruth]

You know what gets me...I went to shop last week for Christmas things, things were cheaper, today on my way home...wow...upped the prices, sad it has to have gone so commercialised x

[Lydia Shutter]

The commercialization has ruined the good times, absolutely. Thanks a lot, Poppy. Lydi**

[kublakhan27]

This one almost reads like a modern-day counterpart to Silver Bells. Sadly the sentiments of that old song have been quashed by the events you speak of here. Christmas shopping used to feel like a truly special activity, but now most people shop online, and the ones that do shop the traditional way are in a hurry, and stressed because they waited till the last moment to get the good deals, or they were simply too lazy to do it until the last moment. But again this is me putting a cynical take on what is still a fun and light-hearted poem to read. The Chia bit at the beginning is priceless...I never thought of that but it's so true ;) Great work my friend :)

[Lydia Shutter]

The holiday seasons of my youth will never come again. You are so right about stress filled shopping trips and never having enough time. Your cynicism mirrors mine and the way I deal with it is writing humorous poetry like this. Thanks for the great review. Lydi**

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

I love the humor of this poem! So odd the juxtapositions of this time of year. Commercialism is not compatible with the Spirit of Christmas, no matter what anyone tries to say!!

[Ufi Auttorri ~ UfoAutho..]

Wow! This poem sure spans the generations, Lydia! Some of those reference are only ghosts of Christmas' past and the others seem to play leap-frog with the leap years. Thanks for opening the old photo albums in my head. There's a lot of good memories there. :)

100 chewy nougat centres

[Lydia Shutter]

I wrote this one back in 2007 I think....but most of the references still are valid today here in South Florida where life never really changes! Thanks for stopping by....I appreciate your review. Lydi**

[Joyce S. Greene]

It's Cyber Monday and I think I'll hit the links tonight! A fun Christmas poem, Lydi. I always enjoy your sense of humor. Write on!

[Lydia Shutter]

Hi Joyce! Thanks so much for the review. Enjoy Cyber-Monday! Lydi**

[Joiedevivre]

ah so true Lydi, spoken wisely, even if tongue in cheek. I just noticed all the Christmas decorations a couple of days ago on the streets of Athens and instead of joy, they filled me with dread, the dread of the shopping season rush. Very well done :)

[Lydia Shutter]

So it is the same everywhere......it takes away from the enjoyment of the season. Thank you for your review, Joie. Lydi**

[Joiedevivre]

indeed :) Thank you Lyds, you are a sweetheart xx