A Visit from St Nick

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Everyone was still wrapping, including my spouse.
The dishes piled high in the kitchen could scare
Any folks who unwitting dropped in unaware.

We’d been working for days and longed for our beds:
How nice it would be to lay down our sweet heads.
But much work lay ahead in our annual trap,
How many more years will we put up with this crap?

“For once can’t we finish,” you might here us chatter,
“In early December and not in the latter?”
The fireplace fire had burned down to ash
Which meant that we had to finish this dash!

So up went the kids, their eyes all aglow.
And we turned in too, now dragging and slow.
For Santa we’d set out some crackers and beer,
(Full knowing more cookies would bring him no cheer.)

We woke in just hours: the morning came quick!
By two kids all excited and one doggy lick.
They bounded downstairs, like moths to a flame,
And stopped at the tree, their presents to claim.

The ripping and tearing of boxes and paper,
Left nothing but shreds and a bit of gray vapor.
And when all was done, I let out a sigh.
“I cannot believe no one bought me a tie!”