Tis the Week Before Christmas

when all through the house, the dusters have flown
The cats are curled up and the dog chews a bone
The Christmas tree, still tied in its net outside
The baubles in boxes since the last yuletide.

The girls all grown up, still get excited as ever
my husband wonders what he will get for his dinner,
with a hoover in one hand, sellotape in the other,
I try so hard to do everything better.

The girls out with their boyfriends enjoying festive fun
while I slave in the kitchen trying to get everything done.
My mum visits for the holidays, enjoying the rest
I want everything right and just at its best,

The night draws in, we are settled by the fire
A tap at the door, carols sung by a choir,
The temperature is dropping, we hope for some snow,
But will have to wait till tomorrow before we will know.

We wake to the silence and brightness of snow,
The sun on the horizon with a bright orange glow,
To the kitchen for toast and a cup of hot tea,
then through to the lounge and what is under the tree?

A couple of presents, not a massive great pile,
just one for each person, I look on with a smile.
One day without telly, just good fun and chat
Silly games and good food that might make us fat.

I wish we all lived closer like we did when I was small
Aunts, uncles and cousins, grandparents and all,
Lived close enough for us all to get round and visit
Having fun, and getting into the Christmas Spirit

Times change, things move on, we can't always stand still
Christmas is for family and all they fulfil.
There is nowhere I would rather be at this special time of year
But with family and friends and all I hold dear!