Vehicles in myriads transporting the nation br Intent on gathering round yuletide hearth. br Annual homing, pilgrim migration br Decides. when arriving, Christmas can start. br Is anyone going to the Sales? br br Number One daughter, collapses in chair, br Dead to the world, stays out for the count. br Hung over from last night's beer, ribboned hair br Now dishevelled, denies she'd drunk that amount br And survived, stony- dry mouthed, she says icely br Someone must take her to the Sales. br br Son bustles in, grinning his way through hugs br Arms full of stringy brown packaged unknowns br Dives for the fridge, lays full length on the rug br And hogs the telly all day, plus the phone br Conceitedly believing he's being nice. br He knows what he wants from the Sales. br br At last arrive oldsters, spluttering gaily, br Protesting this as their best time of year. br Coats off and couched, they state any delay br In booze means more mistletoe usage, near- br Neat whisky and gin only ever suffice! br And don't forget drink from the Sales br br Dinner digesting, now ritual games br Begin with controlled opening of gifts. br Cooing delights as each Designer named br High-priced tag appears, craftily lifted br To show off who has bought the best prize. br But most will be swapped in the Sales. br br How dimmed and afar seems the Christmas star br Which commerce now tinsels and cling wraps, in br Unhealthy deception that love is not marred br By so much devotion to gold.The saddest sin br Is omission of truth, - as too high a price. br Which just does not come in the Sales.