Song of Simeon

"Love is like the lion's tooth."
                                  -Yeats

God himself in flesh disguising
you shall love with maiden's love,
you shall love with mother's love.
Rising falling—falling rising;
and the sword shall pierce you both.
Love is like the lion's tooth.

God himself in flesh revealing
you would with your soul protect,
you would with your breasts protect,
near your heart safely concealing;
and the sword shall pierce you both.
Love is like the lion's tooth.

To the Christmas-Eve World

This is a parody of Lewis Carroll's "To the looking-glass world" from Through the Looking-Glass

To the Christmas-Eve world it was Santa that said,
"I've a present in hand, I've a hat on my head.
Let the Christmas-Eve creatures, whatever they be,
Not stir with my reindeer and elves dear and me!"

                Then fill up the stockings as quick as you can,
                And sprinkle the cookies with chocolate and bran:
                Put mints in the cocoa and milk in the tea—
                And welcome Old Santa with thirty-times-three!

"O Christmas-Eve creatures," quoth Santa, "be still!
I've a tattle to tell and a stocking to fill:
'Tis a privilege high to find under the tree
A gift from my reindeer and elves dear and me!"

                Then fill up the stockings with snow-cones and meat
                Or anything else that is pleasant to eat:
                Mix oil with oxen and ketchup with kine—
                And welcome old Santa with ninety-times-nine!

The Mad Caroler's Song

This is a parody of Lewis Carroll's Mad Gardener's Song from Sylvie and Bruno.

He thought he saw a plate of ham
    To cause his stomach strife:
He looked again and found it was
    A present from his wife.
"If it is only cheese," he said,
    "I'll use my pocket-knife."

He thought he saw a stocking hung
    Up from the chimney-piece:
He looked again and found it was
    The sister of his niece.
"Were she but filled with sweets," he said,
    "Her size would much increase!"

He thought he saw a Christmas tree
    Lighted for Halloween:
He looked again and found it was
    A rag with which to clean.
"The one thing I regret," he said,
    "Is that it is not green!"

He thought he saw a snowman dance
    Beneath a magic hat:
He looked again and found it was
    A grinning Cheshire cat.
"If this should melt away," he said,
    "The mouse will stir, not scat!"

He thought he saw a Santa Claus
    Ringing a silver bell:
He looked again and found it was
    A covered wishing well.
"Were I to give a coin," he said,
    "There's nobody to tell!"

He thought he saw a maiden fair
    Beneath the mistle-toe:
He looked again and found it was
    Some wild oats to sow.
"A kiss is but a kiss," he said,
    "And yet I'll tell her no!"

He thought he saw three sailing ships
    That shared a single hold:
He looked again and found it was
    A saint merry as old.
"You'd best be getting home," he said,
    "The nights are very cold!"

He thought he saw that rotund saint
    Out from his chimney fall:
He looked again and found it was
    An India rubber ball.
"It's big and red indeed," he said,
    "But brings no gift at all!"

He thought he saw an argument
    That Plato might propose:
He looked again and found it was
    A reindeer's shiny nose.
"Should that prove bright indeed," he said,
    "To show it only goes!"

Before I died

I died before I died.  I do not mean
I died before I died.  I died, then died.