This poem was inspired by a real life event. I took my family to Montgomery Mall and was approached by one of Santa’s photography helpers. The elf asked if we wanted our picture made. I said I didn’t have money for pictures. Santa motioned for us to join him anyway. And away we went . . . for
A Visit with the Last Santa Claus
Montgomery Mall, Christmas Eve 2005
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the mall
One creature was stirring, yea elf came to stall:
“Come hither! Take pictures with good old St. Nick!”
I brought the children to the camera, and quick.
I rode that mall’s carousel when I was a lad,
And visiting Montgomery Mall was a tradition I had.
My favorite stores were vanishing fast,
So I knew that this Christmas might be our last.
There were no customers, no jangle or jingle,
So it surprised me to see a forlorn Kris Kringle!
Lonesome and sad, with one elf for a friend
We saddled up for pictures once more, at the end.
With awkward silence, we approached Santa’s chair
And noticed that we were the only ones there!
Only a few years ago, tons of shoppers were packed,
But the deck of time against this mall was stacked.
Santa sat lowly, speaking with nary a grin
As my one-year-old daughter tugged at whiskers on his chin;
“Take note of the reindeer,” he said, “the pretty little fawn,
for this time next year, t’will be a Title Pawn.”
The elf set up shop, to the camera behind,
As Santa Claus held us so gentle and kind.
He asked what we wanted for him to bring,
But none of us asked for shiny new things.
“I remember you at Normandale,” to Santa I said,
“the first mall in the state,” as his face turned red.
“Why must Montgomery Mall say goodbye, too?”
I asked him, as the Jolly One’s cheerfulness grew.
“Ho, ho, ho,” St. Nick said with a smile,
“It’s not where you shop, or what you find in the aisle.
Christmas is about a special birthday,
That’s why we’re here taking pictures today.”
I paused for a moment and looked at my brood,
Santa’s words putting me in a most Christmassy mood.
I heard him exclaim as we walked out of sight,
“Your photos were free, now to all a good night!”
Michael Bird is a music teacher at Faulkner University.
