This was in my email when I arrived at work this Thursday…

Dear Bill,

         I have left Sean H. for you every week day from 3 to 7 - and I don’t regret it. There are others here in Cape May County who have done the same.

         As a Christmas present I am sending along a poem I have written, inspired by the homicide rate of my hometown Philadelphia. Enjoy it and feel free to read it aloud should you so chose.

                                      Prof. Helen McCaffrey

                                                         

                       CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE HOOD
                                        By Prof. Helen McCaffrey

              ‘Twas the night before Christmas
              and all through the hood
              the gangstas on corners
              were up to no good.

              Crisp green Benjamins,stuffed
              their pockets and pants, while
              assaulting the air with
              their faux tough guy rants.

              Behind their barred windows
              The children slept tight
              And prayed that a bullet
              Wouldn’t pierce through the night.

              Their Mom in the kitchen
              Had just put them to bed
              Then sat with two aspirin
              Just holding her head.

              The Dad was out working
              An overtime shift
              To make a nice Christmas
              And give each a gift.

              He called home at supper
              To say he would be
              At home a bit later,
            ’cause he’s buying a tree.

  His wife looked out the window
A chill up her spine,
            As she watched the gang members
            Do crime after crime.

            Her attention was shifted—
            A noise in the next room -
            She turned quickly toward it,
            Now armed with a broom.

            Imagine her shock!
            Her amazement! Surprise!
            She couldn’t believe it!
          And kept rubbing her eyes.

          Yet THERE he stood -
          Red, round, shiny and bright
          A big bag in his fist
          He now swung to the right.

        He looked for the tree
        But none was yet there
        Then he spied all the stockings
        Hung on the rail stair.

        He gingerly filled them
        Then turned as to go
        But noticed the woman
        And turned around slow.

        He instantly read her
        Her heart and her head
        ‘The wonder of seeing him,
        the fear and the dread that
        her husband was late,
        coming home Christmas eve.’

        Reaching into his sack
        He pulled out one more gift.
        He gave it to her
        Then turned with a swift move
        To the exit.

        Though no words were spoken,
        She seemed to surmise
        “You’ll know just what to do
          should occasion arise.”

        And then in an instant
        The jolly, round elf
        Was gone through the ally
        And she was all by herself.

        She restarted her vigil
        And time passed the night
        She glanced out the window
        Her man was in sight!

        Carrying presents and dragging a tree
        His vision obstructed
        So he couldn’t see the thugs who were lurking,
        Intentions all bad
      To rob him and beat him
      And take all he had.

      “Oh no! Not this Christmas!”
    His wife thought in a flash
    And reached for the gift she had
    Recently stashed in the closet-
  Not knowing she’d need it so fast.

  She dashed out the door
  Headed straight for the gang
Who now fled in terror
  When her ‘present’ said bang.

The gifts all recovered
The tree brought inside
Love for each other not easy to hide

“How did you save me,
all by your small self?”
“I didn’t”, she smiled “I
had help from an elf,”

“who gave me a Glock
to use for the good,
so for one night at least,
there’d be peace in the hood.”

        Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year

          From Helen McCaffrey

 ”THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE.” -
                                        GEORGE WASHINGTON

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