Happy Christmas, Beloved Children. A Poem

with new Banksy painting

Happy Christmas, Beloved Children

Happy Christmas to children
in dungeon of neglect
bottom of the short list
in Xmas shopping
with their Santa Claus
skipping over poor 
in his electric sleigh.

New Banksy Painting. Available in London on 22 December 2025. Two children lie on their back. Older one points to the sky. Sparse flower near their feet.

Happy Christmas to children
whose parents yell, even scream
and treat them as a threat to
a meaningful existence.

Happy Chrismas to tiny
tented with cold rain 
seeping under canvas
though thin blankets
to go under their skin
beneath flattened sky.

Happy Christmas Day? For
snatched lives, innocence
in scorched rubble as
eyes look up to sky
fingers point the way
small ones time robbed 
of breath. no space to play.

What do the pilots
drone operators, 
tank commanders
random slaughter
by those masked men
on streets, in schools
whisper in the ears
to their nearby children?
a day in the office?
I do what I am told?
honour moral values? 
keep my religious faith?

What happened to you
happy playground noise
of hop, skip and jump
in playful army dressed
in school unform?

What crimes we commit
children bcome downtroden
not even a footnote
grown ups thus squabble
war games of first strikes
as they dance on with lust
the graves of little ones.

Happy Christmas to children
in hospital, frail bodies
hairless heads, unsure days
held in kindness and 
sight's sacred moments.

Happy Christmas to all
presents of glee for kids
little ones watch with
idle view, unwrapping, 
self-indulgent parents
with vanity wrapped
perfume and red wine
two slaves to sensual.

Happy Christmas to all
chew animals, birds, fish
laced with salt and sauce
creatures of innoocence
eyes once showed distress
mirror babes, minimal
words, expanse of feelings.

Happy Christmas to the chidlren
abused
afraid
forgotten
lonely 
tear-soaked pillows.

A mother brings to life
haby in arms of earth
little one suckles joy
she sings songs of love
whispers sweet somethings
eyes grow to wonder
soft waves of kindness

State snatches her children
to inflict its fixed will 
into their purity, play
and nurtured daily life.

Herod the Great, King of Judea
fear threatens birth
of a new king
put to the sword
all boys two years and under
massacre of innocent

Oh, little has changed
our kids still face 
cruel cuts of contempt.

Mary saved Jesus who stepped
forth to rule in Kingdom of Love.
are we protecting our children 
from the forces who plunder 
soul of flowers born to bloom?

Let us safeguard, protect our kids
Where they abide in the world
Let us offer all little ones
A Happy Christmas
A wondrous life
And forget ourselves
Forever and Forever.

Happy Christmas to you all.

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