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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>From a friend in Canada. This is so good, I just had to share
it.</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'> </span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>A
Covid Christmas Poem</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Twas
the night before Christmas, but Covid was here,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>So we
all had to stay extra cautious this year.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Our
masks were all hung by the chimney with care</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>In
case Santa forgot his and needed a spare.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>With
Covid, we couldn't leave cookies or cake</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>So we
left Santa hand sanitizer to take.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>The
children were sleeping, the brave little tots</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>The
ones over 5 had just had their first shots,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
mom in her kerchief and me in my cap</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Had
just settled in for a long winter's nap.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>But
we tossed and we turned all night in our beds</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>As
visions of variants danced in our heads.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Gamma
and Delta and now Omicron</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>These
Covid mutations that go on and on</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I
thought to myself, "If this doesn't get better,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I'll
soon be familiar with every Greek letter".</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
just as I started to drift off and doze</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>A
clatter of noise from the front lawn arose.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I
leapt from my bed and ran straight down the stair</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I
opened the door, and an old gent stood there.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>His N
95 made him look pretty weird</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>But I
knew who he was by his red suit and beard.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I
kept six feet away but blurted out quick</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>"
What are you doing here, jolly Saint Nick?"</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
I said, "Where's your presents, your reindeer and sleigh ?</span><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Don't
you know that tomorrow will be Christmas Day? ".</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
Santa stood there looking sad in the snow</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>As he
started to tell me a long tale of woe.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>He
said he'd been stuck at the North Pole alone</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>All
his white collar elves had been working from home,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
most of the others said "Santa, don't hire us!</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>We
can live off the CERB now, thanks to the virus".</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Those
left in the toyshop had little to do.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>With
supply chain disruptions, they could make nothing new.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
as for the reindeer, they'd all gone away.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>None
of them left to pull on his sleigh.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>He
said Dasher and Dancer were in quarantine,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Prancer
and Vixen refused the vaccine,</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Comet
and Cupid were in ICU,</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>So
were Donner and Blitzen, they may not pull through.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
Rudolph's career can't be resurrected.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>With
his shiny red nose, they all think he's infected.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Even
with his old sleigh, Santa couldn't go far.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Every
border to cross needs a new PCR.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Santa
sighed as he told me how nice it would be</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>If
children could once again sit on his knee.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>He
couldn't care less if they're naughty or nice</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>But
they'd have to show proof that they'd had their shot twice.</span><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>But
then the old twinkle returned to his eyes.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
he said that he'd brought me a Christmas surprise.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>When
I unwrapped the box and opened it wide,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Starlight
and rainbows streamed out from inside.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Some
letters whirled round and flew up to the sky</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>And
they spelled out a word that was 40 feet high.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>There
first was an H, then an O, then a P,</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
I saw it spelled HOPE when it added the E.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>"Christmas
magic" said Santa as he smiled through his beard.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
suddenly all of the reindeer appeared.</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>He
jumped into his sleigh and he waved me good-bye,</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
he soared o'er the rooftops and into the sky.</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>I
heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>"Get
your vaccines my friends, Merry Christmas, good-night".</span><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>Then
I went back to bed and a sweet Christmas dream</span><span lang=EN-CA
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>Of a world when we'd finished with Covid 19.</span><span
lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'><br>
Joseph David</span><span lang=EN-CA style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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