Second day of Advent

All day long they come, the charity vans,

reversing the work of St Nick:

hoofing sacks from kerbsides, taking off.

Most never stop, even this time of year.

Wardrobes stay shut – toy boxes, too –

leaving rows of embarrassed doorsteps

blushing under kilowatts of rope lights.

Festive scenes behind each closed door;

wishlists that deliver other vans.