Are You Ready For Christmas?

All through December the people we meet
on the bus, on the train, in the shops, on the street
are programmed like robots to greet and repeat
these five words, ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’

I’ve bought my poinsettia, pot pourri that stinks,
stocked up the pantry and unblocked the sinks,
invited the neighbours for mince pies and drinks
but I’m nowhere near ready for Christmas.

Not much focus on Christ. So few go to Mass
as faith, hope and share index all start to crash.
We’ve maxed out our credit cards, spent all our cash
in our quest to get ready for Christmas.

Have you warned the new temp that old Jack’s on the loose?
Have you ordered the turkey, the duck or the goose?
Does an angel ride out on your Norwegian Spruce
Are we there yet? Are you ready for Christmas?

The beauties of Broad Street, each elegant miss,
who limbered her lips for the mistletoe kiss,
is bladdered, tights laddered and out on the …
but are you, are you ready for Christmas?

I’ve rolled out the marzipan, rolled in the beer.
I’ve opened my heart up and filled it with cheer.
Now, I’m ready to welcome another New Year.
How are you? Are you ready for Christmas?

Julie Boden

December 2008
(First Public Reading: BBC Radio Cov/Warks, 23 December 2008)