Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLADE OF A DENATURED CHRISTMAS, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLADE OF A DENATURED CHRISTMAS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When mince pie goes without its sherry
Last Line: I'll spend my christmas day with dickens.
Subject(s): Christmas; Dickens, Charles (1812-1870); Nativity, The


When mince pie goes without its sherry,
And Christmas pudding hath no flame,
Don't dare to call such Christmas "merry,"
Don't say 'tis Christmas all the same!
For mercy's sake, don't try that game!
You cowards, with the hearts of chickens,
'Tis folk like you that are to blame --
I'll spend my Christmas Day with Dickens.

Yes! my sad heart in him I'll bury,
The good old times ere life fell lame,
And hearts were warmed with Tom and Jerry,
And men got "glorious" without shame,
In Father Christmas' sacred name;
Ere grape-juice -- that no dead pulse quickens,
And such-like sticky horrors came;
I'll spend my Christmas Day with Dickens.

Martini -- don't forget the cherry!
A slice of lemon, pretty dame!
Even honest cider, and the very
Mention of punch -- ah! crowned acclaim!
Are penal in a world grown tame;
Each year the gloom around us thickens,
As fools some new amendments frame --
I'll spend my Christmas Day with Dickens.

L'Envoi

Christmas, chap-fallen is your fame,
To-day the mere thought of you sickens;
A fast, no more a feast, proclaim --
I'll spend my Christmas Day with Dickens.





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