The store clerk saw the stranger,
And the sad look on his face,
As he watched Christmas shoppers
Rush around from place to place.

The next time that he saw him,
He was by the manger scene.
Some people had thrown trash there
And it wasn’t kept too clean.

Then he watched him make his way
Through the present wrapping line,
So that he could get a look
At the Merry Xmas sign.

He just stood there by the X
With a teardrop on his cheek.
The store clerk had to wonder
What this man had come to seek.

There was a look of sadness
On his face, when he would pause,
To watch the line of children
Tell how they loved Santa Claus.

And then a Blue-Light Special,
A new toy was put on sale.
Stampeding wild-eyed shoppers
Caught the stranger in their swell.

That night they found his body
Mangled by the hectic crush
Of many Christmas shoppers’
Frantic, bargain hunting rush.

What had caused the stranger’s death
On this happy Christmas Eve?
Would there be someone to care
Or would anybody grieve?

The coroner said the man
Had been trampled ‘til he died.
But had no explanation
For the knife wound in his side.

Two marks that mystified him,
And caused the coroner’s qualm,
Were the jagged puncture wounds
In the center of each palm.

The Casualty of Christmas is, of course, a parody. Our children learn about Santa Claus before they learn about whose birthday Christmas is. I know that we are constantly told that X is a symbol for God but isn’t that just an attempt to appease those of us who are Christians? Xmas just doesn’t quite do it for me. I’m not preaching against Santa Claus, I just think that he shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow the birthday Child.