大象传媒

'A Prewar Christmas' was written for the children of Dr. Griffiths of Landscape House by Fanny Annum of Heath Waen, Knockin, near Oswestry in 1943 or 1944 when she was working for them. It is taken from Miss Annum's 'The Little Brown House and other poems' which was kindly donated to Oswestry Library by John Baker in November 2005.

Christmas is not what it used to be, said Santa Claus one day to me.
Before this war the skies were clear;
There was nothing to startle me coming down here.
Now there are aeroplanes crowding the sky,
Scaring my reindeer as we speed by.
In my home in the far north far far away,
I would load up my sleigh for Christmas Day
With a thousand and one things sure to please:
Little toys and games, crackers and trees,
Silver stars, bells and balls, and candles small,
And sparkling frost - I had them all.
Now with this war on what shall I do,
My sack is half empty, I'm rationed like you.
Oh the wild geese would scatter a carpet of snow
To smooth my path to the world below.
More swift than winged birds in their flight,
My reindeer carried me through the night.
The stars of heaven came peeping through,
Guiding my reindeer straight and true.
We landed down here in the way you all know,
With never a sound or a trace in the snow.
The children were dreaming of me in their beds;
No fear, no war hung over their heads.
No blackout, no siren, no foe from afar
Darkened the glory of Bethlehem's star.
When I filled the last stocking,
I'd pop back in my sleigh.
As I turned my reindeer for home and away,
I heard the bells ringing, merry and gay,
To welcome the Christ child on Christmas Day.

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