It’s Poetry Friday and it’s also December 1, which is both the first day of Advent, and the first day of summer here in Australia.

So, although I keep thinking it’s ages till Christmas, I guess it is now officially close. It’s also a sign that the school year (which runs from February to December) is coming to a close, and in classrooms across the country, kids and teachers alike are looking forward to school finishing. With all that in mind, here’s a little poem about December – and Christmas – in Australia.

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming.

We’ve stopped learning stuff at school

except how to sing Jingle Bells

whilst standing straight and tall

so the folks can get good piccies

at speech night;

and how to get glitter to stick

to a polystyrene ball

to hang on the Chrissie tree;

and how to make a gazillion cards

one for Mum

one for Dad

and two for the grandmas;

and how to carry home

all those scrapbooks

and artworks

and dead textas

and how to concentrate

on all this

even though it’s 40 degrees

and our classroom isn’t airconditioned

and all we really think about

as that Christmas is coming.

 

(Poem copyright Sally Murphy)

 

Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is at A Reading Year. Head over there for lots more poetry goodness.