Newbiggin by the Sea Creative Writing Group

Shopping Centre tills are whirring with transactions bright
Glitter sparkles, musak carols spring to life in the merry halls of commerce,
Announcing one more party outfit from the overflowing choice,
All is warmth and light, for those who can't decide which decorations are in fashion. 
Adverts feast upon the cheer, of just one more purchase, while the plastic takes the strain.
Down the back streets totter office party goers wishing that their last drink remained in the bottle.
In the restaurants, tables, crackers ready, dishes groaning with calorific party fair.
Outside the cold wind down the dank streets rasps at cardboard boxes,
While the Sally Army hands out soup and blankets through night. 
Will you stand, pause for a moment, in your choice of party outfit.
To listen to a refugee, who saw the best in everyone,
Accepted people without reservation, 
Poor, smelly, ill, thieves, addicts, the homeless,
Never had more than the clothes he stood up in, no roof over his head. 
So in this glitz tinselled season
Will you take time to recognise abject poverty, see the dirt. 
Understand injustice, the unsanitized pain.
If you listen hard, far away beyond happy carols,
You may hear the crack of gunfire, scream of child, sob of refugee.
Don't let the credit hype, brush uncomfortable things from sight,
When sending cards festooned with fat robins. 
Don't ignore the smell of hunger, intractable poverty. 
In listening to the latest party musak, relishing lots to eat and drink with friends.
Remember the message of a filthy manger that unqualified love happened,
Love unreserved need not be lost in translation.