Christmas For Billy

Christmas is coming as it has in the past
And soon feelings of joy will appear " but not last
Festivities, parties, drinks all around
But remember in some homes there won’t be a sound
Except for the cries of the lonely and lost
Who have been dealt misfortune and now count the cost
Be they rich, or just poor with a couple of pence
What they see in the world really makes little sense

Billy stands at the window
Hands held tight to his chest
Whilst his friend who’s called George
Dresses him in 'Sunday best'
Nothing special of course, just an old patterned shirt
That has faded so much whilst relinquishing dirt
And his trousers too big, but much better than tight
Show the signs of repairs by old hands in poor light
And the smile on his face is reserved for his mum
Is it really ten years since she told him she’d come?
“I expect that she’s busy” he says under his breath
No one had explained about old age and death

The nurse stands watching Billy as her tears fill her eyes
For she knows all he’ll face in the future is lies
But he’s safe in the home from the people he’d meet
If he ventured outside to the big grown-ups street
Now her thoughts race ahead to her own children’s delight
In hanging their stockings on Christmas Eve night
If only poor Billy could share Christmas day
With the people he loves, but who all stay away
He talks of a sister or two and a brother
But none come to visit one year to another

Billy moves from the window and sits down to say
“I expect that she’s busy - so can’t come today”
The nurse sheds more tears and looks out on the snow

“Please don’t cry nurse” says Billy
“We all love you, you know”