The Day I Wrote A Nice Poem Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

Merry Christmas

Out of date cans of beans, cheapest cuts of meat,
presents bought one can ill afford, but pressure
to give is too strong to resist; beside it is nice to
see a child smile. A packet of cigarettes to uncle
Tom, a silk handkerchief to his wife-she cries a lot-
nicely wrapped in coloured paper. Austerity this
Christmas, so what! Next year´s will be better, we
are sure, even if the economic forecast is dismal,
the Eve will be familiar and cozy as usual.