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The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas' ...
          And with finances dead,
               No black number lasted -
     Turned Rudolph-nose red.

My wallet, 'twas empty,
          My plastic, quite maxed,
               My bank account, zero,
     My credit - gone, axed!

My back, like my money,
          Was spent and inflamed ...
               The gift-wrapping mess
     Put a landfill to shame.

The stockings were jammed
          With a slew of odd junk,
               Tho' I don't recall WHAT,
     (Being just short of drunk).

I'd hung them with care
          'Bove the fireplace, but ...
               They all smelled like smoke,
     With the flue frozen shut.

My goodwill was doomed
          For the shape it was in,
               And my patience had left
     With the last of the gin.

But bless all the guests,
          They slept like the dead,
               (Our sugarplums spiked
     With pure Panama Red).

Perhaps I could sleep now,
          Sans nightmares and fear,
               Left dreaming the madness ...
     Of Christmas ... NEXT year.







~ 2nd Place ~  in the "The Night Before 2" Poetry Contest, Joseph May, Judge & Sponsor.

~ Poem of the Day ~  featured at Poetry Soup on December 7, 2019 - thank you, Admins!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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12
Dietrich Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 3:14 PM
Truly hilarious, Greg. A very well deserved win for you, my friend. Loved it.
Barden Avatar
December 16, 2019 at 10:46 PM
Many kind thanks to you, Andrea, I greatly appreciate it ... blessings, Buddy! :o) <3
Thompson Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 8:59 AM
An absolutely brilliant and funny poem!! CONGRATS on the contest win! A FAVE! Best wishes...Ron :)
Barden Avatar
December 16, 2019 at 10:45 PM
Oh, thank you so much for the comment and fave, Ronald - it is very much appreciated, my friend! Blessings! :o)
May Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 4:34 PM
They were in dreamland after those sugarplums!, Congrats on your win Greg
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 3:01 AM
Thank you so very much, Joseph, I'm so pleased you liked this and found it worth of placement, my friend ... I don't do a lot of humor, but I certainly enjoy it when I do. Blessings to you and yours! :o)
Iversen  Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 2:38 PM
A smile maker. Congrats
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 3:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Peter, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Poteet Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 1:54 PM
Congrats, Greg, on your top win with this witty sardonic piece. We all get there after a hard day or one fighting the flu. May your Christmas be blessed with fond memories of your dad and celebrations past.
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:59 AM
Thank you so very much, RAP, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Gauthier Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Back with well deserved congrats on your top win, Gregory.
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:59 AM
Thanks again, Line - so kind of you! <3
Marcum Wong Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 1:14 PM
It is not surprising to see this wonderful poem in 1st Place Greg. Congratulations on your deserving win! : ) xxoo
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:59 AM
Thank you again, Connie - so appreciated! <3
Na Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Congrats on your winning poem Greg
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:58 AM
Thank you so very much, Gregory, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Y. Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 12:23 PM
Hi Greg, I'm just coming back to congratulations on your top win. It was well deserved:-) Alexis
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:58 AM
Thank you so very much, Alexis, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Canerdy Avatar
December 14, 2019 at 7:40 AM
POTD and first place and I clearly see WHY. This is fabulous--so funny, Greg! Janice
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:58 AM
Thank you so very much, Janice, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Andresen Avatar
December 10, 2019 at 2:18 PM
- Congratulations on your great p.o.t.d., Gregory :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:57 AM
Thank you so very much, Anne-Lise, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Gauthier Avatar
December 9, 2019 at 7:45 AM
A delightfully playful Christmas nightmare. LOL Congrats on your POTD, Gregory. A fun read.
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:57 AM
Thank you so very much, Line, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Marcum Wong Avatar
December 8, 2019 at 12:43 AM
This can become a humorous classic Greg! It has all the lighthearted fun mixed with reality to leave one feeling joyful at this time of year that can get a bit chaotic. I loved this wonderful POTD and it is going into my Faves! Congratulations! Happy holidays. xxoo : )
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:57 AM
Oh, I'm glad you liked it, Connie - thank you so very much, Dear Poet, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Nicole Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 10:18 PM
Perhaps Santa has been drinking WAY TOO much Eggnog. (Yikes) I don't know. I do know you know how to make me smile. Giggle!! This is so cute, clever and creative. Congratulations Greg, on Poem of the Day. Watch Out for tipsy Santa, trying to fly his sleigh. :) Brandy
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:56 AM
Glad I could make you smile, Dear Poet - thank you so very much, Brandy, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Shaw Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 7:07 PM
Brilliant satire, a penny for the box . . . ; )
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:55 AM
Just a penny?? Well, I'll take what I can get, my friend, lol! Thank you so very much, Indiana, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Proxenos Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 3:09 PM
Hi Gregory, Well penned and congrats on a truly deserved POTD. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:55 AM
Thank you so very much, Jennifer, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Doll Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 12:42 PM
Gregory, great write. Congratulations on POTD. Warmest Wishes~ Warren
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:54 AM
Thank you so very much, Warren, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Roper Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Excellent poem, Greg, congratulations on POTD
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:54 AM
Thank you so very much, Eve, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Sands Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 9:45 AM
Congratulations for POTD Greg :)
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:54 AM
Thank you so very much, Heidi, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Y. Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Hi Greg, I agree with everyone else, this is so good and well written. You should great in the contest. I wish you the best of luck in contest. Congratulations on getting the poem of the day. It was well deserved. Have a great day my friend:-) Alexis
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:54 AM
Thank you so very much, Alexis, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Robinson Jr. Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Impeccable humor, Mr. G! Kudos on POTD. Magnifique poetry! Love and more love always.
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:53 AM
Thank you so very much, Freddie, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Adams Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 7:52 AM
this is great Greg...very imaginative and well crafted...love this...congratulations on your POTD ... hugs
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:53 AM
Thank you so very much, Sandra, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Pigeon Tart Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 7:27 AM
This is SO GOOD Greg! Got the makings of a Christmas classic me thinks. Congrats on POTD! Season's best to you my friend. xomo <3
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:53 AM
Thank you so very much, Maureen, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Warrior Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 6:47 AM
The second stanza...sums it all up, Gregory...a big fat zero lol...a more realistic night before Christmas, for many including myself lol...good time for the spiked sugarplums lol...Congrats!! on POTD!! my friend...and have the happiest of holidays...^WW^ ;o)
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Well said, lol - thank you so very much, ^WW^, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Lawless Avatar
December 7, 2019 at 6:21 AM
a grand bit of realism and ..... well.....realism.....in this tongue in cheek ode to the inanity of it all...
Barden Avatar
December 15, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Thank you so very much, John, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
12
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