Christmas Every Week: Carol Singers
Arnold Kellett’s poem is a sad memorial to a fading custom.
Children's off-key cheeky voices
Serenading Hobson's choices,
Carol singers! Not again!
God rest you merry gentlemen!
What a two-faced Christmas racket!
Out of tune, but well in pocket;
Doorstep duos none can quell,
Fingers poised to press the bell!
Hear their breathless, gabbled greetings,
Door-to-door their brisk repeatings;
Festive blackmail! Who could doubt it?
What would Christmas be without it?
Ah, now we know ... The streets today,
No longer safe for kids to play,
Doors unopened, bells unrung
And not a single carol sung.
