THE BELLS ~ of Christmas Morning bright
The central heating\'s on again
The neon light ~ across the night
Reflects the streaks of snowy rain
In Churches stained glass window sheen
The Blue & Gold and Red & Green !
The Holly in the Church Yard hedge
And from the Manor House the Yew
Will soon be cut to deck the ledge
The Altar ~ Font and Arch and Pew
Happy Parishoners will say
\"The Church looks nice\" on CHRISTMAS DAY !
The Bars & Pubs blare out and blaze
And City Buses chug along
On blocks & blocks of Flats I gaze
And hear a snatch of Christmas Song
And bunting on the big TOWN HALL
Says \"MERRY CHRISTMAS to You All !\"
The London Shops ~ on CHRISTMAS EVE
Are strung with Silver Bells and Flowers
And weary hacks ~ computers leave
Home to their dreary breeze block towers
And marbled clouds go scudding by
Tower Bridge ~ Big Ben and London Eye !
And giggling Girls remember DAD
And boily Boys remember MUM
And sleepless children\'s hearts are glad
As CHRISTMAS MORNING bells say \"Come\"
E\'en to the favoured ones who dwell
In suits and gowns ~ HILTON HOTEL !
And is is true ? O is it true ?
The must tremendous tale of all
Seen in the Stained Glass Window\'s hue
A BABY in an OX\'s stall ?
Creator of the UNIVERSE
Became a CHILD on Earth for US ?
And is it true ? For if it is
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies
The sweet and silly Christmas things
Candles and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie ~ so kindly meant !
No LOVE ~ that in a Family dwells
No Carols sung in frosty air
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this awesome truth compare ........
That GOD was MAN in Palestine
And lives today in BREAD & WINE ~ AMEN !
Thanks for visiting ~ comments welcome ~ Love BRIAN XOX
This poem is an update on a Poem by John Betjeman 1935.