Christmas Eve - A Mother's Lament

‘I still haven’t started the wrapping
and there’s most of the tinsel to fix.
I said I’d see Ruby at seven
and it’s nearly a quarter to six.

Is Richard still out at the theatre?
He’s been at the sherry again.
We must have a drop for this evening;
I’ll have to go out in the rain.

Oh, damn it – the dog’s wet the landing!
Where on Earth is the carpet shampoo?
Find something to soak up the puddle –
yes, yesterday’s ’paper will do.

Why does the tree smell so funny?
Quick, Stephen! Oh, look at the lights!
No, I don’t want to argue – they’re burning;
take them down, or I shan’t sleep tonight.

I’ll be glad when the whole thing is over
and I’ve only a simple request:
if you both want to treat me next Christmas,
what I’d like most of all is a rest…’