At the fall of midnight’s darkness on the eve of Christmas Day,

the dark of eleven fifty-nine was all but passed away,

the darkness that you only get just after twelve-oh-one

was hanging in the wardrobe still; it’s time was yet to come.

 

One second after the above, a clopping over the rooves,

a thunder clap of ungulates, ruminants with hooves,

a second after midnight, I tell you, clopping over the rooves,

I heard the tiny tapping sound of graceful reindeer hooves.

I heard the sound of reindeer horns attack the chimney stack.

I heard the sound of reindeer horns... Antlers! That’s the word.

Antlers – without question – it was antlers that I heard.

 

I phoned the police and media and everyone I know

and everyone I didn’t and – well everyone really –

who hasn’t done that though?

I called doctors and psychiatrists – anyone who had a phone –

I was diagnosed with bonkersness and locked up in a home.

 

Care in the community awoke me with a grin

when asylums had become expensive and community care came in.

 

darkness falls with an ear-splitting bang, the first fall of the sun;

this Christmas Day awaking, awaking from a dream,

A bunny’s face lears into mine and says “Happy Halloween!”

Fainting back to sleep again to faint, unquiet dreams,

darkness falls with an ear-splitting bang, the crashing of the sun

I wake to blood all over the place. Oh Christ what have I done?