Christmas Day 2020 by Susan Price
"Oh no! No! Not Earth 2020!" Christmas Day in the Workhouse (A Poem by George R. Sims, 1847-1922) It is Christmas Day in the workhouse, And the cold, bare walls are bright With garlands of green and holly, And the place is a pleasant sight; For with clean-washed hands and faces, In a long and hungry line The paupers sit at the table, For this is the hour they dine. And the guardians and their ladies, Although the wind is east, Have come in their furs and wrappers, To watch their charges feast; To smile and be condescending, Put pudding on pauper plates. To be hosts at the workhouse banquet They’ve paid for — with the rates. Oh, the paupers are meek and lowly With their “Thank’ee kindly, mum’s!’” So long as they fill their stomachs, What matter it whence it comes! But one of the old men mutters, And pushes his plate aside: “Great God!” he cries, “but it chokes me! For this is the day she died!” ...