A Christmas Wassail for 2016

18 Dec 2016

BPF
We’re gathered here to wish you health -
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl a toast to all;
For you we raise a glass for wealth
A heartfelt toast that’s not too small.

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! To one and all!

Ignored he sat, cold and homeless -
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to him dejected;
Bottle in hand, unloved and rootless
By shoppers avoided, despised, rejected.
 
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to all our customers!

Life has now passed him by -
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl a toast to you
Christmas is coming, so much to buy,
God bless us all – so festive and true.

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! To all of us!

Unemployed and on the welfare,
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to those who struggle;
Ignored by many, so unaware
Of lives so far from Christmas cheer

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! Christmas is coming!

For children of Aleppo who’ve suffered in pain 
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to those who perished;
Barrel-bombed again and again
Young lives at risk, no longer cherished.

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! To a season of cheer!

Friend of Putin, Trump unchecked
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to the Land of the Free;
With populist support. President elect,
What now for the Home of the Brave?

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! This Christmastide!

Remember the dying of drought-stricken Africa
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to children of famine:
Orphans alone from Chad to Somalia,
Scratching existence from a soil so barren.

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl to children well fed!

So raise your glasses, enjoy your health –
Wæs hæl, wæs hæl a toast to all;
Happy are we, but what’s the truth?
A birth long past – a child so small? 

Wæs hæl, wæs hæl! Indeed!


Wassail (Wikipedia) (Old English wæs hæl, literally 'be you healthy') refers both to the salute 'Waes Hail' and to the drink of wassail, a hot mulled cider traditionally drunk as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient southern English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year.

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BPF

Love creativity - especially writing - poems especially. Love my wife, cats, our church, reading, warm weather (so rare here!) and snow - quite common these days - even in spring....

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