Two men dressed in red one with a beard the other with horns on his head
Both with the same name, one a Saint the other Old Nick, both of considerable fame
The bearded comes once a year while the horned one is always near
One sits on your shoulder the other you sit in his lap one never sleeps the other takes a nap
Through moral rifts or snow drifts, to the obedient both promise gifts
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Author:
sorenbarrett (
Offline) - Published: June 27th, 2025 03:12
- Category: Unclassified
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Comments17
A fascinating connection here about Santa Claus and the Devil. Its an amazing juxtaposition. Very entertaining indeed mi amigo
Thanks David for your review and kind words. Just having a little fun at their expense.
Now that is some connection, but we never know they could be related, enjoyed the read
Thank you Tobani for your review and comment on this bit of musing. Glad you enjoyed it.
You are very welcome
Good write, Sorenbarrett.
Thanks so much Jerry you visit is most appreciated
Oh, such a playful poem; a cheeky meditation on duality, how closely virtue and mischief can wear the same festive red coat. With tight, rhythmic rhyming and a grin tucked behind the lines, it teases out the parallels between Santa Claus (the Saint) and the Devil (Old Nick), both dressed in red, both iconic, both offering something to those who believe. There’s a mischievous symmetry in their swapped roles: one omnipresent, whispering temptations, the other delighting in seasonal generosity. And that line; “one sits on your shoulder, the other you sit in his lap,” brilliantly captures the moral topsy-turvy we all navigate. Even the final couplet lands with a wink: whether through snowy fields or moral tests, the promise of a “gift” remains, though the nature of the gift may be quite different. It’s so witty, wry, and satirically sweet. A timely reminder that the line between naughty and nice isn't always drawn in snow. 🕊️🙏🏻
I am humbled by the review Cryptic it itself is more poetic that the poem. Thank you so much for your review and comment on this bit of poking fun at our myths.
Most welcome Soren. What would we do without our expansive body of mythologies!?!?!? 🙏🏻🕊️
Sounds like Christmas and the devil. The first one comes once a year. The other one is never far from us.
Indeed true I find it interesting that there are so many similarities. Psychologically there may be some linkages but most of the write is just coincidental connection thrown out as jest. Thanks Soman for the read and review
I knows the Christmas one - some fat beardy bloke in a red costume and welly boots, who always makes a mess of the lounge, covering it in soot! Dunno how he gets down the chimney, but I'm gonna keep a fire going this Christmas Eve night. That'll teach him! heehee,
Thanks Orchi for the read. Yea I've tried that fire trick before but he picked the lock on my front door and my pocket at the same time.
LOL.
Wait. Santa is an anagram for Satan? Wonderful write and, with the consumerist mania that comes around the chubby elf's season, one might suspect they COULD be the same person! 😱 aAnd of course, the "naughty list Santa" really is rooted in Krampus, who far more looks like Satan. So, there's that too! LOL! Wonderful poem, my friend. A fave for sure. 🌹👏
Thanks Tristan for the review and kind words of support. I hadn't thought of the anagram but that naughty list did come to mind just ran out of time to fit it into rhyme.
Yes! You are most welcome! Yeah, one can only fit so much in. I was just sharing my imagination running wild. Loved this Soren. It said those things without having to!
Tremendous work.
Thank you Thomas I appreciate it
Old nick is a faithful friend in creation and fat santa never even looked at me !
Sad to hear that. Thanks for the review Lorenz it is most appreciated and valued
This is such a brilliant and playful contrast between two iconic figures! I love how you’ve woven their similarities and differences into such vivid imagery—right down to the lap vs. the shoulder and the yearly visit vs. constant temptation. The rhyming flows smoothly, and the riddling tone keeps it engaging. Great job capturing the duality of these two 'red-dressed' figures—one bringing joy, the other mischief!
Thank you Mottakeenur for the encouragement and support, this a little fooling around. A little fun never hurt anyone.
Oh how brilliant, although I wouldn't mind sitting on the lap of the devil, just to feel what it's like 🔥 👿 lol well you know me.... Brilliant rhyming and so very visual. Wonderful poetry. 🌹
Thank you so much Teddy your words are so appreciated and valued. Just having a little fun
One of those buggers are going to get you one day if you continue to carry on like that, Soren - mark my words...
Well amused by that, mate
Maybe they already have, in fact the fat bearded one has taken me for more money than I want to admit, legal robbery I call it and the other one has a contract on me he says but I don't remember signing it. If you think this one is bac just wait for tomorrow. Thanks Dave appreciate the review and comment of concern.
That's what comes of having offspring - they always fave the fat beardy one....
Good conncetion between the two soren, they both seem to sit on our shoulders.
Andy
Thanks Andy I appreciate your read of this poem and appreciation of the weight they both have.
Very good.
Thank you Kevin
Two sides of the coin well represented. Kudos 👍
Thank you so much Nafisa for the read and for your most understanding words
Loved it
Especially the Rhyming .
Thank you Adiii I appreciate the read and kind words of support
A spiritual warning tied up with the gift of rhyme among its multiple warnings and comparisons -wise words indeed! Thought provoking and imagery rich as well as being structurally and rhythmically deft and melodic. Thankyou again for the inspired work! Sincerely, Elizabeth
Thank you so much Elizabeth for your review and kind words of praise they are most appreciated
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