Christmas Economy Blues - A Christmas Poem

Cynthia McDaniel-Soll
Cynthia McDaniel-Soll, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 1, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
When I initially responded to the call for an original Christmas poem for 2008, I considered the classics: reindeer on the roof, Santa eating cookies, holiday feasts and the like. But this year, things just feel a little different. In the midst of a very real recession, my Christmas thoughts bring more concerns than delight, so this is my ode to those of us who are a bit worried about this Christmas:

Christmas Economy Blues

It's 3 AM and here I sit,

outside of Circuit City,

waiting to hit Black Friday sales,

cause my budget isn't pretty.

I hope I can get some DVD's

and a new Wii for the kids.

My hubby wants a table saw,

(something my cash forbids).

If I don't get the stuff I need

to put beneath the tree

Every member of my family

Is going to disown me

Yes this is Christmas 2008,

no stimulus checks in sight,

and I'm wondering how to decorate,

cause we need new Christmas lights

Grocery store prices keep rising,

and half the neighbors are out of work,

and Uncle Sam's bailing out Wall Street...

You know, he's sort of a jerk!

Where's my bailout, Sam, old boy?

Who's going to pay my bills,

when I can't afford to heat my house

to ward off winter chills?

It's a sad state we've reached this year

when Christmas brings no joys,

and you wonder whether to buy some food,

or your blow it all on toys.

Some say blame the Republicans,

others say blame the Dems,

cause this Christmas is shaping up

to look like something out of Grimm's.

Who's the wicked witch in this tale?

The bankers who lent the dough,

or the guys who said this couldn't happen?

Hope they're enjoying their crow.

Wonder if the brand new year

will bring us some sort of relief?

seems like this year didn't bring much

Except election news and grief

So here I sit my friends,

on the sidewalk at the mall,

camping with strangers and hoping that I,

don't get caught in a holiday brawl

I wish you good luck while shopping.

I hope you find a great sale,

and that all of your groceries have coupons,

and that none of your creditors bail.

Published by Cynthia McDaniel-Soll

I am a 34 year old former clown. Born and raised in the southern United States, I have traveled to 49 of the 50 United States. I'm an avid cook and prolific reader. I'm also a classic movie buff, with partic...  View profile

9 Comments

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  • Alexa Pecore12/30/2008

    Good job, I think we can all relate to this one. And cheers to you for managing to make up laugh, rather than bumming us out.

  • Onemargaret12/8/2008

    Nice poem. Congratulations on being featured on the front page of AC!

  • Cynthia McDaniel-Soll12/8/2008

    Oh, it's all meant to be very tongue-in-cheek. :) I don't even actually have kids... I was just imagining the pressures that parents must feel at this time of year.

  • Your name12/8/2008

    Great use of rhyming in your poem, overall very good job! :) Although I will say these few lines were rather disturbing:

    "If I don't get the stuff I need

    to put beneath the tree,Every member of my family Is going to disown me"
    and the choice between groceries and toys...kind of a no-brainer there-food over non-necessities.

    While we all certainly feel the pinch, I'm happy to report that there will be VERY minimal gift giving, most handmade and in some cases no gifts at our house. Seriously, have we forgotten the TRUE meaning of Christmas?? It is celebrating Christ's birth not being consumeristic monsters. We need to educate our kids better and create a different expectation as it pertains to gifts. Just my .02

  • Donna Thacker12/8/2008

    Great way to sum up a dismal season! A lot of people are having a slim (or no) Christmas this year. Sad to think we are all in this shape...

  • News Team12/8/2008

    Thank you for your submission. Your article has been featured on the front page of AC.

    Please keep AC stocked with great front-page material.

    If you read high-quality content you believe is worthy of the front page, let us know by using this forum thread:

    http://forum.associatedcontent.com/forum.shtml?thread=25491

  • Shannon Cotton12/8/2008

    Great job, and very true! (I'm going with groceries this year instead of presents - food is more important!)

  • LilyQ12/8/2008

    Definitely what I'm thinking!

  • Laura12/1/2008

    This is pretty dang neat! It fits! :)

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