Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MERRY CHRISTMAS - IN SPITE OF ALL!, by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A MERRY CHRISTMAS - IN SPITE OF ALL!, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Long years ago in london town
Last Line: Can rob us of our christmas cheer.
Subject(s): Christmas; Gays & Lesbians; Nativity, The; Homoeroticism; Lesbians; Gay Women; Gay Men


Long years ago in London town
The bigots cut the Maypole down,
Where "Merry England," hand-in-hand,
Danced round and round it in the Strand.
They made a crime of Christmas Day;
And passed strict laws 'gainst being gay;
They simply couldn't bear to see
A vestige of felicity.
To wear a happy morning face
Was an indictable disgrace,
And mince pie and the Christmas tree
Meant nothing but idolatry.
And so it was the English beckoned
'Cross Dover Straits for Charles the Second --
They'd had enough of saints, poor sinners,
And ate in peace their Christmas dinners.
But still the same sour race survives,
Hating the joy in human lives;
Making, by law, all merriment
Less than one-half of one per cent.
Our laughter and our love must be
Whispered, lest they should hear or see;
The Federal officer will soon
Keep watch on lovers 'neath the moon --
A kiss that lasts for half a minute
Must have too high percentage in it.

Yet, though they ban the Christmas bowl,
They cannot down the Christmas soul;
Nor Bolsheviki nor near-beer
Can rob us of our Christmas cheer.





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