Today is Thanksgiving day,
and the rush to Christmas starts.
Tomorrow the crowds will make their way
to all the malls and marts.

It's labeled as the busiest time
of all the entire year;
and multitudes will stand in line
for bargains far and near.

The streets will jam with many cars
with sounds of every horn,
the greatest spars of all street wars..
begins tomorrow morn.

Folks from home will come and go
to fill all parking spaces.
Through every hall and stall they'll flow..
in pace that tops all races.

The malls will clutter endlessly
with shoppers on the round,
looking at all gifts to see
if discounts can be found.

This surge will last to Christmas eve.
and on through Christmas day;
does anyone, do you believe,
stop long enough to pray?

It seems sometimes that Christmas joy
has lost it's truthful meaning,
when business shows it's greedy ploy,
which needs a thorough cleaning!

So recognize it's Christ's birthday,
and gifts are mere traditions;
that we should give our thanks and pray,
which are our main conditions.

take out the x, and put Christ in,
then CHRISTMAS truly shows...
continue in this grateful trend,
then joy in yuletide flows!

BY . . . WILLIAM E. HARDISON