richards odes

Christmas Cards

I’ve been writing Christmas cards for hours, and hours, on end.

Some of them to relatives and some of them to friends.

Most of them will be received with very little glee

By people who have done this task as sketchily as me!

Ok, I’ve sent a news-sheet to those who might just care

But the effect of this on others is to make them tear their hair!

The simple Christmas wishes that we give to everyone

Have somehow lost their meaning before the seasons done.

To write a Christmas card for those we give it to by hand

Is really rather difficult for me to understand.

We wish them Merry Christmas as we give the Christmas card

To do without the written word would not be too hard.

And yet we still will swap our cards for every one we get,

Not to give them greetings but, in case they are upset!

Think of all the money that is wasted in this way!

I wonder what you think our gracious Lord would have to say?

Could that money not be spent in better ways than this?

In help for those less fortunate to share some of our bliss?