Poppy and Moppy on Christmas Eve

“Oh so cold, so cold,” said Poppy. “Snow on snow for me and Moppy” - “Mummy dear,” said Poppy so sweetly, “Can I play out in the snow?” “Eat up, eat up your breakfast then Out in the snow, but only when You’ve done, I say again.” “Oh dear! My egg?” said she to mum. “To eat my egg I do agree But Mother dear, don’t you see?…. Moppy’s here, and waits for me.” “Don’t be so giddy, so silly, dear Poppy!” Then out in the snow, ever so cold, To meet with Moppy who’s so bold; Moppy’s so strange to behold - “So weird, she has three pegs for legs.” “Off we go”, said Moppy to Poppy To Santa with Moppy so floppy and hoppy “I’m ready and steady to go”, said Moppy And off they flew without ado. To Lapland’s frost and ice and snow, To Santa’s workshop down below; And Christmas lights now round them glow: “Good morning Moppy and Poppy!” said Santa. “Meet my reindeers so happy and spry, My sleigh is packed and ready to fly, My helpers prepared and standing by, We start tonight with Kathmandu.” “This my workshop with parcels galore, My gnomes at work across the floor, Wrapping and packing presents from store - Ready for sending round the world.” “This year’s letters from children all, Asking for presents large and small; Here toy soldiers, there a doll, All wrapped and ready for stockings and trees.” “Letters here from earlier years.” Piled so high on tables and chairs; “Look at this!” Poppy declares, “One from a girl who wants a train!!” Poppy and Moppy now sit in the Sleigh With Santa and Rudolph - up and away To Kathmandu and Mandalay Across the oceans and cities they flew. An X-Box here, a Barbee there, For baby now, a cuddly bear; A scooter, then a rocking chair. “Time for home! for home!” said Moppy. Up, up and away they flew, Time for home, this they knew; In Santa’s sleigh from Kathmandu And back to snow in Poppy’s garden. “Come in dear, time for tea!” “Ok!” said Poppy, no longer free, “Moppy’s gone, now only me.” “You do look a mess”, Mummy said….. “What is that upon the floor?” “Where?” asks Poppy. “By the door!” “A piece of paper, Mum, no more!” “A letter to Santa, from Lucy aged four?…….” 29 November 2014 This poem was written for a favourite granddaughter, whose mother, at the age of four, had a penchant for writing request letters to father Christmas. In one of her letters she was keen to have a model railway (which she did - eventually!). The letter, accidentally brought home from Lapland by Poppy, was one that her mother had sent to Santa a long time ago! Did Poppy really fly with Moppy to Santa’s factory? Was it just a fruitful imagination? Who knows? But what, then, of the letter?