OUR PEOPLE: Dreaming of a YMCA Christmas

YMCA Norfolk resettlement offier Mike Howard has seasonal thoughts about homelessness and is dreaming of a YMCA Christmas in his latest poetry series.

The Homeless Snowman

I saw a homeless person,
Standing in the snow,
Was wrapped up in a blanket,
He had nowhere to go.
I thought about him all last night,
I went back there with haste,
No sign of the poor homeless man,
A snow man in his place.
I took hot soup and sandwiches,
But snowmen do not eat,
I took it for the homeless man,
I thought would be a treat.
I looked upon the snowman,
I seemed to know his face,
Where had I seen this face before?
I think it was this place.
I went back home for Christmas,
And suddenly understood,
Was not a snowman standing there,
In that there wintery wood.
On rushing back to snowman,
I see the ambulance crew,
Thank God, I’m not that snowman,
A man I never knew.

Christmas at the Hostel

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the hostel, All I could hear was a snoring nostril! Was like no sound, I’d heard before, Into community room, to explore! A sleeping man I now did see, All dressed in red, under a Christmas tree! A long white beard, and boots so black, And on his shoulders, he had a sack! Mince pie in one hand, the other a cup, I must have disturbed him, for now he woke up! He rubbed his eyes, and stretched out his arm, But somehow I didn’t feel any alarm. He said “Don’t worry, there’s nothing to fear, Tell me how many people live here?” “Thirty seven,” (my courage did lack) He said, “Ho! Ho! Ho! I’ll have to come back!” “This sack you see, contains twenty four, We’ll have to go, get thirteen more!” A twitch of those wonderful, twinkling eyes, And suddenly into the air we did rise! I can’t explain this strange floating feeling, And I was quite shocked when we passed through the ceiling! “Someone help me!” I wanted to say, But the next thing I knew I was sitting in sleigh! He explained once again, I had nothing to fear, I noticed the sleigh was attached to reindeer! He called them by name, and gave them a glare, And we all went soaring, Into the air! The YMCA was now far below, Could just see the triangle, It had a bright glow! Flew over large oceans and desserts of sands, And passed over many strange magical lands! The sleigh, it descended, came down quite slow, When we came to a land, all covered in snow! A gnome came to see us, or was it an elf? And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. Went into a large house, was made of cake! More elves in the kitchen, some Eggnog did make! One said to me, “Hi – my name is Rixie! I’ve been promoted, and I’m the chief Pixie! To have human beings in this place is wrong, Your ears will grow pointed! And nose become long!” If you have not gone by the time clock strikes three! You’ll be a pixie, just like me!” I looked at my watch, it said half past two, My ears and nose were just as I knew. But then the big boss man, in the red gown, Said, “Good Gracious me, My sleighs broken down!” I looked at my watch, it said quarter to, I looked in the mirror; my face was quite blue! All of a sudden, the clock it struck three, And something upsetting now happened to me! The big man in red said, “No need to panic, I’ve called Tinker Bell, she’s my chief mechanic!” Time went so quick in this magical land, And I had a reason to look at my hand! The fingers were so long, and looked double-jointed, I felt round my ears, and they were now pointed! My nose was so long, much worse than I feared, And now I was standing there with a long beard! Another five minutes went by in a snap, And now on my head, I had a red cap! To make things much worse, in this land of quick time, I found when I spoke, I was speaking in rhyme! The big man in red (the one with the robe), Said, “Let’s take a short cut, through the wardrobe!” “But first put the presents into my sack, And place them quite gently onto my back!” I did as requested, I felt quite unwell, And wished I was back at the hostel, We went to the wardrobe, and opened the door, A sign there did read “Narnia first floor!” Went into the wardrobe, another sign found, “Please press this button, if you’re earthbound!” I pressed the button, without delay, And found myself back, At the YMCA! I heard the man’s voice, As he went from my sight, “Happy Christmas to all, And to all a goodnight!” Next morning at presents I now took a look, One was unlabelled, and it was a book! The pages were blue, and the cover was lime, Called “Developing life skills, With top up on time!” My Christmas story - was it a dream? To me it was real, or so it does seem, I’ve nothing to add, and that’s all I can say, A magical place this, YMCA! (Author: )

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