We sat around the table
Like all the years before
The turkey looked delicious
There were vegetables galore

We passed the vegies clockwise,
Trying not to look too greedy
My brother didn't say much,
He was still a little seedy

We hadn't asked - it was taboo
To mention delicate matters
But all could tell that things weren't well
His marriage was in tatters

All was going well until
My brother-in-law Paul,
(who's never been forgiven 
For the year he smashed the wall),

Made a very snide remark,
That everybody heard
My brother jumped up from his chair
And said a bad swear word

My mother. quite disgusted,
Gave him the evil eye
He then sat down reluctantly
His wife began to cry.

Silence reigned for quite a while
A comment from my sister
(She couldn't make it last year,
And no-one even missed her)

She said that we're all adults
It's time that we did grow up
(The eldest's always pushy,
I felt the urge to throw up)

Mum said it's not the time or place,
'Cos Christmas Day is when
We put aside our differences
And start afresh again

It's midnight now, it's over
Christmas is no more
Can't wait for next year's festival
With family I adore.