Monday, December 23, 2013


~A Visit with Pa Grouch ~

 'Twas two days before Christmas
And Papa Grouch here
Made a pact with the Devil
To stay home this year. 

~ § ~

The cupboard was bare
And the table unclad
Because of this grumpy
Self-centered old Dad, 

~ § ~

Who'd decided it all
Was too much of a strain
That denuded his wallet
And caused him great pain.

~ § ~ 

Mama was despondent
The babe on her lap
Did nothing but howl
And spit up its pap.

~ § ~ 

The children were mopey
Their eyes sullen slits
They thought Papa'd gone mad
And had lost all his wits 

~ § ~

When on the front lawn
There arose a great clatter
The neighbors had come
To see what was the matter 

~ § ~ 

With no wreath on the door
Or lights on the eaves
They thought Papa'd grown poor
Or been looted by thieves 

~ § ~

So up to the housetop
With garlands they climbed
Stringing green'ry and lights
Till they got all begrimed 

~ § ~

The ladies walked in
With caskets of food
Then set up a tree
While the children they wooed

~ § ~ 

With carols in harmony
Sung at the door
With lighted red candles
That dripped on the floor.

~ § ~  

Then in marched Tom Turkey,
Who went straight to the oven,
Saying, "Pluck me and stuff me,
I'm dyin' for lovin.'" 

~ § ~

He made not a squawk
While they chopped off his head
Plucked out all his feathers
And stuffed him with bread 

~ § ~

And onions and apples
And sausage and sage
And quite enough butter
To pay a week's wage.

~ § ~  

The cranberry mold
Like a rubicund belly
Shook and shimmered itself
Like a gem made of jelly.

~ § ~ 

The scent of cinnamon
Ginger and pine
Along with the turkey
Smelled simply divine

~ § ~ 

A baker on crutches
Who only could hobble
Said, "Soon that old bird
Will be ready to gobble." 

~ § ~ 

The men midst cold ashes
Placed branches for Yule
Their crackling splendor
A marvelous tool 

~ § ~

For cheering and warming
Pa Grouch with his pain,
Who was soon moved to say,
"I've no right to complain.

~ § ~ 

"With neighbors like you,
I feel it's a shame
I ever indulged
A desire to maim

~ § ~ 

"The Spirit of Joy,
Good Will, and Good Cheer.
I promise you all
I'll be nicer––next year." 

~ § ~ 

Then placing his thumb
At the tip of his nose
He waved them Good Night
And to bed up he rose.

~ § ~ 

But I heard him exclaim,
As he moved past our sight,
"Don't let the door hit your butt,
When you leave. Now Good Night!" 


~ FreeThinke ~
Christmas, 201
Have a Jocular Christmas!
~ § ~ 




6 comments:

  1. **chuckle, chuckle**

    Good job, FT!

    No Grouches allowed in this house for Christmas 2013. Too much jocularity for that!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a delightful poetic outing, Mr. FreeThinke!

    It was marred only by the picture of Ducky at the top.

    Merry Christmas to you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Miniver,
    Funny quip about the picture of Ducky.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Agnes Hamilton and Alan Cartwright said

    This is a minor masterpiece. Very witty and original. You seem to love irascible old curmudgeons as much as we do. So glad you posted The Man Who Came to Dinner; we've loved it for years.

    Did you the blog owner write this? If so congratulations, it's very well done.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bea Fowler said

    Should become a classic. Whoever wrote it has a real way with words. Where did you find such perfect lllustrations?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Desderio Velasquez said

    Buenos noches, muchachos.

    ReplyDelete

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