Happy Day AFTER Christmas

'Twas the day after Christmas

And all through the home,

Lay the frenzy of gift wrap

That inspired this poem.

Seems I'd just finished searching

The malls for a gift

That would suit my dear husband,

The kids, our cat, Biff.

No, it hadn't been smooth

Finding things that were neat

For those nieces and nephews

And great-uncle Pete.

Oh, so desperate was I

To get just the right gifts,

That I wrote to the Fat Man

Up north, for some tips.

But the letter came back

From the North Pole marked "Who?

"No one here by that name.

"No such zone. Postage due!"

So I "shopped till I dropped"

And the stores closed their doors.

Now those presents are strewn

All over the floors.

The house is a shambles,

Torn boxes and wrap.

Just a flurry of ribbons

(And that Styrofoam crap.)

Although stockings still hang

By the chimney with care,

All the stuffers are gone.

They hold nothing but air.

The old tree stands still,

Needles ready to drop.

Once the ornaments blinked,

Now the twinkling has stopped.

All the cookies are crumbs

And the fudge plate licked clean.

The eggnog is sour,

The turkey, a dream.

I've been tripping on toys

Scattered throughout the room,

Nearly stabbed my right foot

On that new bracelet loom

Those underfoot Minions,

That Zombie High doll,

Those Skylanders? Chimas?

All over the hall.

Nearly broke my big toe

When I stepped on some Bots

Bumped my head on a low-flying

Plane -- seeing spots.

And staring at electronic

Games that sit dark,

Right next to the stuffed dog

That has yet to bark.

The new toys are scattered

Throughout every room,

While the kids romp outside

Playing swords with a broom.

They don't seem to care

About playing X-Box

Or dolls that look dead

Or Legos and blocks.

They've almost forgotten

Those Disneyland toys,

That loud talking Elmo.

(He really annoys!)

Now Dad's catching Zs

On the couch by the fire,

Oblivious to all of

The muck and the mire.

As I gather the remnants

Of this Christmas Past,

I can't help but sigh:

"It's all over, at last!"

Merry Day After Christmas!

-Penny