he couldn’t sleep
even though he
had been up all night –
it was his turn for

the night shift –
instead he stood
outside peering through
windows to watch

the smiles of excited
children opening gifts
his heart glowed when
he heard squeals of

joy as boys and girls
played with the toys they
most wished for but it was
time to go home

have some cookies
warm milk and put
his feet up – so with a soft
“ho, ho, ho”, he disappeared

into to the morning mist