A Letter To Santa

“This poem was a small section of my play “The Christmas Story” written for a Primary children’s evening held in Penticton, B.C.”

“Dear Santa,” she’s writing, “There’s so much I need,
So to start this long list, I want a ten-speed,
I want some new skates and I want a new dress,
I want a transistor – a Sony no less.
I want some new skis and my own TV,
Oh, there’s so many things I want just for me.
I want some new slippers,
I want a new sleigh,
There’s no end to the things that I want Christmas day.
Refer to Sears Wish Book and start at page one,
And Santa go through it and when you are done,
Let’s see now? What else could I possibly need?
A budgie? A goldfish? A dog on a lead?
I’ve covered it all but there’s one thing I fear,
What is there left to ask for next year?
Perhaps I have asked for a trifle too much,
Perhaps I should shorten my list just a touch.
In fact, I can see now, I’ve been slightly greedy,
It would be a lot better to think of the needy.
So Santa, dear Santa, ignore this long letter,
I have an idea I think is much better.
I’m happiest when I am thinking of others,
My friends and my neighbours, my sisters and brothers,
I’ll think about giving and not what I get,
I’ll think about others, and still better yet,
I’ve made up my mind, I’ll leave it to you,
To decide what to bring; to decide what to do.
And I’ll be content with whatever I get,
And then this will be the best Christmas yet.”