Santa’s Decree---A Poem

Santa’s Decree

All through the valley and all through the dale
Santa soon would arrive looking quite pale

His sleigh was all loaded with gifts and sweet toys
For wee little babies, the girls and the boys

As Santa stooped over checking all of his treasures
He wanted to take all preventative measures

He checked his black boots and the toque on his head
Then hooked all the reindeer onto the big sled

He reached for his gas mask to protect him from smoke
Going down into chimneys did make him choke

His wheezing was heavy as they sped through the night
The Woodsmoke all over had become such a fright.

Though the tears shed down the cheeks of the gentle old soul
His wish for the children was soon to be told

His mission would bring him to each city hall
And a letter he would leave for one and for all

He swooped through the clouds and down from the sky
And landed with ease and exclaimed “oh my”

He slipped out of his sled and onto the lawn
Knowing all his deliveries must be made before dawn.

The City Hall lights lit his way to the door
He tucked in his letter which fell to the floor

Inside the letter was Santa’s Decree
It would also be tucked under each Christmas tree

“My name is Santa and I do declare
I am here to bring every person the gift of fresh air

There must be no woodsmoke, no burning or fire
There must only be healthy voices all singing in the choir

I want children to breathe without wearing a mask
And families to be safe and healthy at last
The air they inhale must be free of those toxins
Of mercury, of lead and deadly dioxins

There must be no more soot and black stacks all about
There must be clean air each day, inside and out

Now my decree I do share and advise all to take heed
My Decree will help you to follow the lead”

As each city Mayor declared Woodsmoke no more
The voices did rally and the children did roar

Gone were the woodsmoke hazed skies from before
The windows were open and so were the doors

The air was so crisp, so pure and so clean
And the gift from Santa would always been seen

Back home and exhausted Santa was proud of his night
The gift he had given would last them for life

No more would they suffer, become ill and die
From the Woodsmoke that used to fill all the cities and skies

Santa picked up his newspaper and read with delight
The woodsmoke had ended and now there was light!

Every city hall had posted Santa’s Decree
The gift of fresh air was met with much glee

Anonymous
(The writer wishes to remain private)