The Night Before Christmas

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'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



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12
Date: 12/15/2019 3:14:00 PM
Truly hilarious, Greg. A very well deserved win for you, my friend. Loved it.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2019 10:46:00 PM
Many kind thanks to you, Andrea, I greatly appreciate it ... blessings, Buddy! :o) <3
Date: 12/15/2019 8:59:00 AM
An absolutely brilliant and funny poem!! CONGRATS on the contest win! A FAVE! Best wishes...Ron :)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2019 10:45:00 PM
Oh, thank you so much for the comment and fave, Ronald - it is very much appreciated, my friend! Blessings! :o)
Date: 12/14/2019 4:34:00 PM
They were in dreamland after those sugarplums!, Congrats on your win Greg
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 3:01:00 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)
Date: 12/14/2019 2:38:00 PM
A smile maker. Congrats
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 3:00:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Peter, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/14/2019 1:54:00 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.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:59:00 AM
Thank you so very much, RAP, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/14/2019 1:32:00 PM
Back with well deserved congrats on your top win, Gregory.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:59:00 AM
Thanks again, Line - so kind of you! <3
Date: 12/14/2019 1:14:00 PM
It is not surprising to see this wonderful poem in 1st Place Greg. Congratulations on your deserving win! : ) xxoo
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:59:00 AM
Thank you again, Connie - so appreciated! <3
Date: 12/14/2019 12:47:00 PM
Congrats on your winning poem Greg
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:58:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Gregory, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/14/2019 12:23:00 PM
Hi Greg, I'm just coming back to congratulations on your top win. It was well deserved:-) Alexis
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:58:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Alexis, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/14/2019 7:40:00 AM
POTD and first place and I clearly see WHY. This is fabulous--so funny, Greg! Janice
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:58:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Janice, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/10/2019 2:18:00 PM
- Congratulations on your great p.o.t.d., Gregory :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:57:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Anne-Lise, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/9/2019 7:45:00 AM
A delightfully playful Christmas nightmare. LOL Congrats on your POTD, Gregory. A fun read.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:57:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Line, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/8/2019 12:43:00 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 : )
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:57:00 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
Date: 12/7/2019 10:18:00 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
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:56:00 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
Date: 12/7/2019 7:07:00 PM
Brilliant satire, a penny for the box . . . ; )
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:55:00 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)
Date: 12/7/2019 3:09:00 PM
Hi Gregory, Well penned and congrats on a truly deserved POTD. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:55:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Jennifer, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 12:42:00 PM
Gregory, great write. Congratulations on POTD. Warmest Wishes~ Warren
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:54:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Warren, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/7/2019 9:48:00 AM
Excellent poem, Greg, congratulations on POTD
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:54:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Eve, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 9:45:00 AM
Congratulations for POTD Greg :)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:54:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Heidi, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 9:30:00 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
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:54:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Alexis, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 9:29:00 AM
Impeccable humor, Mr. G! Kudos on POTD. Magnifique poetry! Love and more love always.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:53:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Freddie, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/7/2019 7:52:00 AM
this is great Greg...very imaginative and well crafted...love this...congratulations on your POTD ... hugs
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:53:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Sandra, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 7:27:00 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
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:53:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Maureen, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o) <3
Date: 12/7/2019 6:47:00 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)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:52:00 AM
Well said, lol - thank you so very much, ^WW^, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
Date: 12/7/2019 6:21:00 AM
a grand bit of realism and ..... well.....realism.....in this tongue in cheek ode to the inanity of it all...
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/15/2019 2:52:00 AM
Thank you so very much, John, your kind comments are greatly appreciated. Blessings and happy holidays! :o)
12
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