• They paid through the nose
    During the Christmas time
    Following the lists
    Made for Santa
    Squiggled sloppily
    On salmon-colored paper
    Patty wanted a pony
    (like every year)
    Robert wanted a robot
    Doris wanted a doll
    All were expensive
    Hardly within the bounds
    Of their budget

    The morning of the 25th came
    Silent and swift
    Like a serpent
    White stained the ground
    The waking squirrels all abound
    Staring in the window to see the crowd
    Of three small children
    Of three Johnson children
    Surrounding the plastic fern
    Placed next to Grandma’s urn

    Patty got a pony
    (one that was 6 inches tall)
    Robert got a robot
    Doris got a doll
    By the name of Betty Sue
    With curly hair and a tutu

    Pretty Betty Sue
    With curly hair and a tutu
    Was the only thing around
    When the police came

    Mr. Johnson
    Never drove to work
    Mrs. Johnson
    Never went to her book club
    Three small children
    Three Johnson children
    Never made it to school

    Pretty Betty Sue
    With curly hair and a tutu
    “Insanity” she plead
    Blaming the lead
    On her pretty pink skin