Christmas Eve

Christmas lights twinkle in the shopping arcade

That Christmas Eve.

Giant plastic Santa's smile

And mud-brown reindeer's pranced across the walls.

Tiny voices of taped carol singers filled the air.

People rushed and pushed,

Hurried and scurried

To buy the last of the Christmas presents.

And on a bench,

Before the Crib,

Sat an old woman

In shabby coat and shapeless woolen hat,

Clutching an empty threadbare bag

Smiling at the little plaster figure of the Son of God