by Lina Willowwood The Grand Yuletide Caper A time fer joy and merry moods A clear and frosty winter day With snowy crystals in the air When we will all go out ter play No finer time fer children small No finer day ter run ahead Ter pat some snow into a ball And throw it at yer best friend’s head! But there is one who walks alone Who never comes ter laugh and play A lad with ragged and dirty clothes His family is poor, they say His hands are blue from winter cold A hungry look is in his eyes And when the others eat their food He turns away and softly cries A silence falls upon the fields The children hang their heads with shame Them never met the lad with smiles Them never called him by his name And up ahead them days of yule With garments new, with food and toys How long them days would be fer one Who never ever saw such joys? But even minds of hobbits small Are home ter thoughts both sweet and grand The children huddle by the fire Then draw up an impressive plan They’ll run fer home and get their toys They’ll raid them pies that stand ter cool They’ll find the brightest clothes they have And give the lad a lovely yule! But there’s a danger to their plan A thing ter overcome tonight Their parents surely won’t agree Ter do what children think is right The dog agrees ter help them out Ter lure them grownups far away He barks and yells and nips their heels “There’s goblins, fire and disarray!” It works! Their parents storm ahead! And so the children go ter work They enter all their homes with sacks And well inside them go berserk With ladders, ropes and sturdy chairs Them even reach the highest shelves Where food and clothes and presents dear Are hid from children like themselves A sleigh is dragged into the yard It’s filled with sacks and crates of food A pony comes ter help them out It must have felt that yuletide mood! With lanterns lit and cowbells near The children hop into the sleigh Through laughter, song and merriment The pony hauls them all away A cold and murky hobbit hole Where joy has rarely been around A family stares into the night When startled by the strangest sound A merry song and jingly bells A lot of knocks upon their door A stream of children flows inside And sacks are emptied on the floor The family that once was poor Are met with riches, joy and song But grander still than presents now A sense that even they belong But oh, a bark outside the door And stomps of tired grownup feet The children stop and swallow hard Their parent’s wrath they now would meet With hanging heads and trembling lips The children must confess their crimes Their parents shake their heads and sigh Then laugh and join the happy times “We’re proud of yer, our rascals dear” “Yer shown us what is right and good” “Ter care fer others during yule” “Ter share yer riches, clothes and food” The stove is lit, the brandy served The food is shared by all inside The toys are played with all night long The clothes are worn with newfound pride No grander feast was ever seen No presents ever felt so dear No lonely more the lad would feel Embraced by yule and hobbit cheer  (performed in the Winter Poetry Competition) |
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