Holly Pie

Holly pie for Christmas,
turkey on the walls,
mistletoe and stuffing
trimmed with crystal balls;
the milkman’s up the chimney
Santa’s at the door,
the tree is hung with mince pies
and there’s tinsel round the floor;
plum cakes through the letterbox,
Christmas cards for tea:
the TV stars are watching us
and the presents have given me.

From Dinner with the Spratts and Other Poems. Published by Methuen, 1991.