Rudolph

Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer ~

too bad he had a shiny nose;

whenever someone saw it,

they instantly became his foes

 

Santa and all the reindeer

made him feel like such a freak

teasing and ostracizing

because he had a unique beak

 

Rudolph went out in the snow

alone to face the cold

then he met a dentist elf

and a man who searched for gold

 

On the Island of Misfit Toys

they spent a restless night;

they found the Bumble in his cave

and outwitted all his might

 

When they returned to Christmastown

Santa had the nerve

to ask Rudolph for a favor,

and that deer, he vowed to serve

 

So remember this old story

when you sit upon his lap;

the tale of a selfish Santa

and Rudolph, the red-nosed sap!

 

Author's Note

Every year, I watch the show "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer", and I am stunned by how mean Santa is in that show. Rudolph is a lot more forgiving than I would be... Oh, and the Island of Misfit Toys? It's really the Island of Santa's Mistakes... :p

Reviews

[Jennifer Gladen]

I love this. I always avoided the beginning of the movie when I was little because I hated it. Santa was bad enough, but when Clairise's dad took away Rudolph's only friend, that was the worst. This poem read my thoughts on the movie. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

The kids could tell you all about my annual "Rudolph Rant". The show has puzzled me for years! Glad I'm not alone! :)

[Sheila Kline]

Well, I guess I have to come along and put my two cents in and I am taking a different view as I interpret the message of Rudolph as one of overcoming obstacles, of being different but becoming a hero, of being noted as one not like the rest, but gaining the attention of his boss, "Santa Claus" and becoming the leader of the pack, so to say. He was the "most famous reindeer of all" - it was the other reindeer who gave him the bad rap, not Santa - Santa made him a hero! This is the way it is in the song.

How did the show/movie turn it into something so bad and make Santa appear to be evil..........I am befuddled. Santa mistreating Rudolph is not the Santa I know........hummmm - other reindeer, but not Santa. Maybe Disney has made the Santa we love into the villain, then shame on them!! It wouldn't be the first superhero Disney has given a bad name........lol

The song made him the most famous reindeer of all!!

[Rita L. Sev]

:) I am glad to see you defend Santa, Sheila - and yes, he does give Rudolph the opportunity to be the hero in the end. However, in the Rankin-Bass animated movie, Santa tells Donner (Rudolph's father) from the very beginning that he didn't want a red-nosed reindeer pulling his sleigh. Later, when he sees that Rudolph is the best flier, but still as a red nose, Santa says, "It's a shame. He had a good take-off..." Santa apologizes at the end, but then starts to make another derogatory comment about Rudolph's nose, until he realizes that it could be of use to him... The song is fine, it's the 1964 movie that makes me crazy! :) Thank you, Sheila, for your insights!

[Sheila Kline]

There go those dang movies again...........lol I'll take Gene Autry's song and embrace it even more now as I love Rudolph and Santa!!!

[NeiL ArandA]

Being different sometimes could be agreat liability for someone who wants to be like and fits it . Rodulf could have give in to that peer pressure and bullyin'. Youre awesome with holiday and special occasion poems . Hows your pet turkey doing?. Great piece Ms Rita .

[Rita L. Sev]

I suppose Rudolph was the one with the most class, not holding a grudge. Thanks, Neil! The turkey is glad Thanksgiving is over... :)

[kublakhan27]

Wow, I'm so dialed into the message you're sending here. I gave up on those "classic" specials a few years ago when it dawned on me just how dated they were on a social level. Charlie Brown Christmas was my favourite one well into my adulthood, but just last year I realized how sadistically Charlie was actually treated in that piece: encouraged to not just come out and get involved in something, but to lead it, only to be revolted against by the most snot-nosed bunch of kids I can imagine, culminating in the final refusal of acceptance: "Well he's still a blockhead but the tree is nice." I juxtapose that bit against my school days and my skin crawls with grudges I should have let go of years ago but never will. I love Christmas and the holidays, but those now-ridiculous shows must be avoided by me if I'm to remain in a festive mood. I guess what I'm trying to say through all this is that you've written an awesome piece that resonated with me ;)

[Rita L. Sev]

I never thought about that end to the Charlie Brown show - you are right - they still treat him like crap! Rudolph has always struck a nerve with me, as a "misfit" myself. It would be one thing if it was just the other reindeer who teased him, but Santa! I have a whole other rant about that Island of Toys - and how there really is nothing wrong with many of the toys there - just more about perceptions, I guess... Glad I'm not the only one... Thanks, K!

[Marie]

I know that story very well Rita. I never thought of Santa as being "mean" but I guess you're right...

[Rita L. Sev]

He's grumpy at best, and downright cruel to Rudolph. But at least Mrs. Claus fattens him up...

[Chris]

tis the season of merry folly...

[Rita L. Sev]

Yes, time to deck these walls with merry folly... :)

[Pryde Foltz]

Clap, clap, clap…………………...

[Rita L. Sev]

*bowing* Thank you, thank you... :)

[Vidya Bacchus]

Way to try and give rudolph a spine lol.I used to watch this and feel sad too.You know there are people like that they treat you like crap but when they need you they come with a fake smile on their face.Nice take on rudolph:)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Vidya - I felt this way about Rudolph even as a child...

[Vidya Bacchus]

You are welcome fellow poet:)

[Diana]

I don't think I've seen this one, but you did a good job providing the reader with context, regardless.

Such a sad story, but you provided a nice punch of humor to it... Thanks for sharing.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Diana - I was worried that the story might get lost here. I appreciate your feedback!

[redflutterby]

Lol....I watched the show this past week with my son and granddaughter. Every time the snow monster came on she would cover her eyes and say "cary monter". As for why Rudolph didn't take his revenge by not leading the sleigh. I guess its meant to show kids how to be the better person. But one might question whether that's really saying you should continue to be "pleasing" when your worth is obviously based on what you can do for those who are mean to you. Hmm...food for thought. Great poem Rita...

[Rita L. Sev]

I'm all for teaching kids to be forgiving, but this is too much! :) The whole message of "fitting in" with your looks drives me nuts... Thanks, Red!