• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Special Interests
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
    • Sydney Royal Easter Show Giveaway
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
    • What’s On
  • Special Interests
    • Women In Business
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

A Christmas Tale – By Heather Veal

December 17, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

One Christmas Eve not long ago

I was lying on the rug,

Eating Christmas fare, and feeling rather smug.

The sound of hooves upon the roof woke me from my reverie

“Whoa” came a cry. “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

Do you know what I did see?

Santa coming through the door,

And this he said to me.

This travelling can be tiresome –

Even Santa needs a break.

He stopped, and helped himself

To a slice of Christmas cake.

Put nosebags on the reindeer,

“It’s getting warm out here”

Santa loosened up his collar,

And reached for a beer.

“Before I leave,” said Santa, “I have parcels for your tree.

(That he had gifts for us had not occurred to me.)

He searched the sleigh. “Here they are!

I know you’ll use them carefully.”

When you see that box stamped Friendship

Beneath your Christmas tree

Count yourself as fortunate and blessed – believe you me.

It’s a gift that brings compassion – and responsibility.

It’s a gift not given lightly, when unwrapped it gives such pleasure.

It’s the same in every country –

A truly national treasure.

Pressed down and brimming over, always given in full measure.

Laughter – a tin of polish for dark and gloomy days

Take care you choose the proper one, wrapped in the correct way.

Make sure how you unwrap it – you do well to be suspicious

Laughter must be happy – it must never be malicious.

For cancer, and the refugees, I have boxes of support.

Small, but constant. They are all so heartened by the knowledge of this thought.

For all the disadvantaged (here Santa shed a tear)

We need more understanding, it’s in short supply this year.

Many gifts to many countries I deliver this Christmas night.

A reindeer whinnied. “Goodness!” said Santa.” I really must take flight!”

He cocked an eye. “This beer is not bad.

Can I take some? Is that alright?”

“Here’s a bottle of Christmas Spirit. All you need is a shot glass.

The glow you will receive from it just cannot be surpassed.

Gather families, gather friends, out in your Australian sun

And share it out amongst you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

By Heather Veal

 

Filed Under: Articles, General Interest, The Write Stuff

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (314) of The Parkes Phoenix (2.2MB PDF) – 1st July 2022

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • News From PSCB July 1, 2022
  • One Night Outside To Help Homeless July 1, 2022
  • Top Chamber Music Outfit To Play In Parkes July 1, 2022
  • Snippets… July 1, 2022
  • Dire Health Care Situation Inspires Hannah July 1, 2022

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Address
7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

Editorial Phone –  0403 080 085
 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales Phone – 0476 110 953
sales@parkesphoenix.com.au

View our Privacy Policy.
View our Conflict Resolution Process.
View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.
Want to advertise with us?
Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Recieve the Phoenix via email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2022 · Website setup by WebSysMan