A Modern Day Christmas Carol (12/21/2004)

Twas the night before Christmas and in the White House
Not a creature was stirring but a keyboard mouse.
The President was sleeping, all snug in his bed
While visions of power danced in his head.
When suddenly came a loud yell and weird light
That awakened the man in a sweat-soaked fright.
The clamor and glow drew him to the next room
From his soft cozy comfort and into the gloom.

His giant computer was sitting there leering
This even the President found domineering.
A voice from the screen told him, "Dubya, be seated."
And said that the President soon would be greeted
By Spirits, who'd each bring him one of three visions
To help him in making important decisions.
Unable to leave his computer and chair,
He found he'd no choice but to sit there and stare.

First the Spirit of Past glared at him from the screen
And drew him back into an earlier scene.
It wasn't a dream, but his own true past life
Showing some of the ways that he'd caused so much strife-
His drinking, his dope, fights in his parents' house,
His neglect of his daughters and of his good spouse,
While his shirking of jobs and of Viet Nam service
With his marriage in shreds made everyone nervous.
But his family's connections, their money and power,
Kept the young man's life from going too sour.
They tucked him in slots that brought wealth, not wrath,
Thus moving him down a political path.
With so many people now holding his hand,
He soon became President of this great land.

Next the second Spirit, Present, in coldness and clatter,
Frightened the President, made his teeth chatter.
"You loudly tell everyone that you are reborn,"
Said the Spirit, "but brashly you blow your own horn.
Look here, with your cabinet, you think it's just fine
If they're all only toadies; if not, 'You'll resign,'
You tell them. And warned of terrorist attack,
You ignored it, but dodged the political flack.
The horrible war on the Iraqi nation
Costs us our young AND our good reputation.
You mortgage the country, the biggest debts ever,
But say to the people, 'With money, I'm clever.'
Your policies butter up all the fat cats,
While the working class is treated just like rats.
But that's just the present," said Ghost number two,
"It's time that you see what the future can do."

Spirit three, from the Future, then came in black cloak
To show him the fate of American folk.
"Ten years hence, look, the war and the terror have spread.
The world looks upon us with hate and with dread.
Privatizing of Medicare really defeats
The sick and disabled, who beg in the streets.
Social Security, jobs, pensions, health care,
All gone. Now poverty, growing despair
And pollution each spread a cloud over the land
Now everyone's doomed at the President's hand.
We've become a poor country, unable to lead
So your legacy will be destruction and greed."

"No, no," cries the President after the tour,
"I never want any of this to occur."
Spirit said, "You have time to make all of it better.
There's no need that you be a lifelong regretter.
But first you must open your heart and your mind
To the needs and the suffering of all humankind.
Govern with true understanding and care,
Not with threats or the fear that cause hate and despair.
The choices that you make from this minute on
Make the Future." And then...the Spirit was gone!

The President woke Christmas morning in bed
And thought about all that the Spirits had said.
But was it a dream, or was it all real?
What must he do so the Nation could heal?
Should he act on the visions or forget it all?
Our future will tell if he answers the call.

But let US not forget what is brought in this season,
Hope, peace, true charity---that's the real reason.

- Judith Kohler

Commentaries Home