T'was the Friday Before Christmas...

T'was the Friday before Christmas

And all through the streets

People were shopping

For last-minute treats

Abingdon centre

Was thronging with people
Bells ringing out

from St Nicolas steeple

When suddenly, in Stert Street

There emerged such a clatter

The Mostly Books staff

Looked out - what's the matter?

The strangest of vehicles

Parked in the road

A sledge, and some reindeer

On the back, a large load

Car drivers were staring

Eyes wide in amazement

As a large man in red

Stepped out onto the pavement

He looked all around

(His fat tummy shook)

And declared very loudly

"I need a good book!"

He entered the bookshop

Approached the first shelf

And we couldn't help laughing

At this jolly old elf

We looked at St Nick

And his large rotund belly

Showed him a diet book

('Hairy Bikers', off the telly)

Perhaps what he wanted

As he sat in the sleigh

Was a good work of fiction

As he sped on his way?

We grabbed "Essex Serpent"

by author Sarah Perry

He loved the bright cover

It made him feel merry

But that wasn't quite right

What else could we do?

Showed him a 'Puzzle Book'

From GCHQ

Still not quite right

So he nipped out the back

And looked at the children's books

Displayed on the rack

He squeezed into the room

Made such a big rumpus 

The staff stopped and stared

In their bright Christmas jumpers

'Under Earth, Under Water'

Was a big Santa hit

And he pondered a moment

And bent down to sit

So many great books

He took quite a pile

He hunted through shelves

And he took quite a while

"Ah, the new Chris Riddell!"

He cried out "I can carry it!"

A perfect new gift
From the new children's Laureate

Well, soon he was happy

With a big pile of books

'Cogheart' by Bunzl

'Secret Chord' - Geraldine Brooks

He passed on the Walliams

("They'll all have read that")

But took one of the Ladybirds

"How It Works, The Cat"

The Melvyn Bragg title

Had won an award

So he took it, and also

The new Katie Fforde

But just before leaving

He stopped at the exit

"I suppose I should take

Something fun about Brexit!"

With no chimney to shoot up

He just used the door

We swept up the glitter

That was strewn 'cross the floor

And he staggered to Rudolph

Placed the books in his sleigh

"Happy Christmas booklovers

And to all, a good day!"

Happy Christmas from all at Mostly Books!