Christmas Future

Christmas Future The phantom dressed in black, hovered by the fireplace Year of our Lord 2030 was closing out at last Closing with the shop with New Year’s business My friends are here with me for festivities and champagne The spirit intruded our conversations and celebration Took me rudely with a skeletal hand with no excuses Abruptly pinched my wrist and spirited me through the window I told him I’m in my 80’s, too old to fly, too young to die He flew me any way, to the local cemetery plot in sad disgrace My name was etched upon the cold rock face before me I smiled, though knowing that was wrong to do Since firing all my employees, with no word, no reason To send them out to freeze at Christmas season Is the reason I am here, in this awful mess I smiled because the name upon the tombstone was not exactly mine They misspelled my name, which is not a crime, but That makes them idiots without a doubt I guess I have one more year to live, correct? Or until the end of time before I die to make things right Since the government makes all tombstones in the region We know how incompetent they can be The spirit of Christmas future will have to find another job He might start by learning how to spell Along with government officials, before they send me off to hell Created on 12/15/14 for – “Christmas Past, Present or Future” Poetry Contest Theme - "Christmas Future"