Pressure of Christmas.

 

It is that time again endless adverts and pressure from the telly,

 To emotionally blackmail you and ring you out of every penny.

Convincing you what you currently have is old and out of date,

implanting instructions in your mind they all need to be replaced.

 

Last year they were the best items ever to had been invented,

A year later they tell you they're no good anymore, so outdated.

No need to worry about money, or if you can afford them or not,

They have a hundred ways to get in debt and pay for the lot.

 

Already drowning in your ever-growing mountain of debt,

They tell you can spread payment over years, so it costs you less.

You write a list of what to buy for friends’ family and children,

You spend hours filling out paperwork for the credit and loans.

 

You know the rules you have played this game many times before,

Chancing your arm to find out which company will lend you more.

Look it must be Christmas, all the lenders have all said yes,

Ignorant that these decisions just bring more unbearable stress.

 

Presents bought and wrapped with money you never really had,

Because you believed those endless emotional slick television ads.

They convinced you the loans and credit you will be able to repay,

Reality put to the back of your mind; it is a good Christmas Day.

 

The good feeling disappears as you slowly approach the new year,

Reality is back and with it come back all the stresses and fears.

Now drowning ever more worry and a bigger pile of debt,

 All because of your inability to say no, you just had to say yes.

 

For years that is a cycle you repeatedly get yourself in,

This time next year you already know another one will begin.

And when it does, think i am happy with what I already have

No thank you, say no, no, no to all the debt and television ads.

 

Tobani (2024)